Elder Rights: World

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A World Tour of Older Persons Homes
Come on this World Tour to a little known place in the world to discover how older persons are living.

Background Documents

World: The Toronto Declaration on the Global Prevention of Elder Abuse (November 17, 2002)
This 2002 Toronto Declaration on elder abuse is a call for action to prevent older persons from suffering abuse. This paper points out the crucial need of a legal framework to address the issue. As violence against women or children was considered a major issue in the 80’s, today elder abuse should be viewed as a social issue of concern to everyone.

World: Ending Discrimination Against Older Women Through the Convention (July 5, 2002)
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women "urges that special attention be focused on the special needs of older women." The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women "defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination."

Africa: The Rights of Older People: African Perspectives (November 2008)
The African Union, through its African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, has developed a broad and impressive framework for the protection of rights of older persons in Africa. At the domestic level, however, most African countries still have to develop specific policies and legislation. Although some 25 national constitutions make provision for rights of older persons in some form, only three prohibit discrimination on the grounds of age. The Report suggests developing a specific treaty that provides a mechanism for implementation and accountability of human rights for older people which is currently lacking. 

                                                        Articles

South Africa: Govt, Elderly to Work Together (June 24, 2010)
The South Africa Older Persons Forum partnered with the South African Government to improve services for older people and to implement the Older Persons Act which was launched officially July 15. They will register old people for services and review funding criteria for frail-care residential facilities. After establishing the Act, the SA Older Persons Forum circulated information to older people, NGOs, and organizations to promote an active life for those who are aging.

South Africa: They Kick like Grannies, Proudly (June 21, 2010)
A group of frail older women in South Africa started playing soccer as a joke. Now they are running and competing on the field, leaving cultural expectations in the dust. The group emerged from a "healthy living" project for older women in townships around Tzaneen. More than forty women regularly take part; other teams have sprung up and matches are held regularly in a local stadium. The women will participate in the US Adult Soccer Association Veterans Cup in Lancaster, Mass., in July.

Senegal: Older People Ask for a More Efficient Government System for Seniors (June 17, 2010)
(Article in French)
Several associations point to the government denouncing the fact that older people are neglected once they retire. While five ministries deal with aging concerns, the associations demand a unique structure to improve conditions for seniors. They reported that 300 notices sent to different ministries went unheeded. They want to draw attention to what seniors, with their experience, can bring to the country. And they want the government to understand and remedy the difficult living conditions elders face.

Malawi: A Conference in Malawi on Old People (June 14, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish)
Malawi held its first meeting on the rights of old people in Africa. The International Conference, “Ageing in Africa: Sensitizing the Nations,” was celebrated from June 2-3 in Lilongwe. The government of Malawi, Bingu Silvergrey, a Foundation, and the Community of San Egidio organized the event. Participants at the conference created a Bill of Rights for the Elderly stating that it is necessary to provide home care and the assistance necessary for life with dignity to all older citizens in Malawi. 

Africa: How Our Elderly Are Not Cared for, Especially the Females (June 12, 2010)
In Africa, the majority of older people work to support their families until they find it physically impossible to do so. However, as younger people become more involved in urbanized lives and seek opportunities for work in the city, their older parents are often left in the rural areas without care. Older women who worked their entire life taking care of the household, in particular, need to be guaranteed a decent living.

Malawi: African Societies Need Plans to Assist Elderly People, Says Mutharika (June 2, 2010)
Bingu Wa Mutharika, the Malawian President and current African Union chairperson, spoke at the African Elderly Conference, emphasizing that older persons should not be ignored in society. They have the right to enjoy the advantages of socio-economic development, he said.

Sierra Leone: Pastor Morie S. Ngobeh, "The Joy of Seeing Them Free is What I Love" (April 13, 2010)
Pastor Morie S. Ngobeh, who puts his age at “over 70,” has been spat on and stabbed by addicts at a center for drug abuse and mental illness in Sierra Leone 's capital, Freetown. In this article, the pastor tells the story about how he started to counsel drug abusers and of the courage and patience required to do the work he loves.

Uganda: Growing Old in Uganda (April 6, 2010)
Uganda has an aging population that needs more attention, according to research conducted by HelpAge International. Although the government has developed a range of programs to support older people, financial incapacity and political unwillingness have produced little action.

Burkina Faso: A Review of Laws for Legal Protection of Older Persons (January 26, 2010)
(Article in French) 
In Burkina Faso, older persons suffer from discrimination and violence, particularly older women, who are banished because people think they are witches. To solve this problem, some associations organized a workshop on January 22 to find solutions to improve the current laws that are not clear concerning the rights of older persons. Those associations based their suggestions on a study by a legal consultant and will pass their proposition on to the authorities.

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Americas & Caribbean

Peru: National Plan for Elderly (2002-2006)
(Article in Spanish)
The National Plan for Elderly was created to lay out action steps that the government would take on aging issues in Peru. The elderly population in Peru is 7.2% and could reach 13% by 2025. This plan aims to integrate the elderly in the society, by increasing the quality and quantity of health care services, by creating policies of food assistance and by helping old people enjoy a pleasant life with their families and in society. Another National Plan objective is promoting a positive image of older persons.

Mexico: Law For Older Persons in Mexico City (Distrito Federal, México) (1999)
(Article in Spanish)
A new law for older persons in the city of Mexico (Distrito Federal de México) took effect in 1999. This law affected all persons older than 60 years old. The law’s aimed to integrate the elderly into society and to improve the quality of life. The law includes sections related to health, food, social assistance, participation, and work. 

Reports | Articles

Reports

Canada: Senior Population in Peel Region: Trends, Characteristics and Issues (March 2010)
This report provides information on trends, characteristics and issues among the senior population in the Peel Region of Canada. It uses data from the 2006 Census of Canada and the 1996-2006 Portraits of Peel reports. The authors want to reach policy and decision-makers in the government, social services, not-for profit and business sectors, community groups and founders in the Peel Region. Hopefully, the readers will find the information valuable in their planning and decision making on priorities for developing and enhancing social services, infrastructure and community and recreational activities for seniors in Peel Region. 

US: Cultural View on and Response to Mistreatment of Elderly Korean American Immigrants: A Social Development Intervention (2010)
Older Korean immigrants suffer elder abuse, a growing social problem in the US and will likely increase dramatically. This study addresses cultural views and responses to mistreatment of elderly Korean immigrants. When asked about four hypothetical scenarios, interviewers asked individuals to identify whether they perceived scenarios to portray elder abuse and asked them if they would seek help in such a situation. 

Trinidad and Tobago: Ageing in the Caribbean: Exploring Some Major Concerns for Family and Society (March 24- 26, 2010)
In the English-speaking Caribbean, older people now represent 10-13 percent of the population. Their presence and value in society can no longer be ignored. The author examines the economic and health needs of the older population and the support they receive from governmental agencies based on research conducted in Trinidad and Tobago. The paper examines societal and cultural changes over the years, such as family size, that impacts older persons in today’s Caribbean. The author urges the promotion of the well- being of older persons. But is the Caribbean region prepared for the older population?

Caribbean: ‘Active Ageing’: A Qualitative Study in Six Caribbean Countries (2010)
Based on data collected in six Caribbean countries, the researchers examined the economic, social and health situation of older Caribbeans. They note that ageing is taking place in a context of low economic performance, changing intergenerational relations, fragile institutional structures and reduced access to health care services. Older persons in some countries pointed out that they have insufficient incomes and inaccessible health care.

Mexico: Validation of the Subjective Well-Being Scale in Family Caregivers of Elderly People (January 2010) 
(Report in Spanish)
The researchers wanted to explore the validity of the Subjective Well-being Scale (SWS) in familiar caregivers of older adults suffering from diabetes mellitus type 2. Some 142 family caregivers from Hermosillo, Sonora, participated. The SWS revealed four elements that explain 55% of the variance that turned out to be valid and reliable: the first identified their affective situation and their satisfaction with life, both of them valuable issues in designing and implementing psychological support programs for family caregivers.

GrandFacts: Data, Interpretation, and Implications for Caregivers (December 2009)
This report focuses on grandfamilies, a family headed by grandparents in which no parents of the grandchildren are present. Little is known about skipped generation families as a sub-group. Currently about 640,000 such families live in the US and they face great challenges in many areas. To understand these families better, the authors looked at the demographics, age of the children and possible policies regarding skipped generation families. To illustrate the information, they highlight data from the US Census Bureau’s latest national sample. 

Chile: Older Persons and Technology; Does Chile Consider Them (June 26, 2009)
(Report in Spanish)
The writer reveals the generational gap between young and older people in Chili. Despite this gap, older persons are beginning to get connected to technology. The government wants them to use technology that will also contribute to economic development. Fortunately, the National Congress Library has initiated meetings to teach older persons how to use the new technology. 

                                                             Articles

Brazil: Brazilian Old People Become Excellent DJ's (August 2, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
"I'm not a grandparent, I'm a DJ.” With this slogan, a music faculty based in Sao Paulo teaches older adults to become professional DJ’s. It is never too late if you feel the music. Students learn how to handle music equipment and become familiar with the various electronic beats to know how to captivate their audience.

Costa Rica: Families Will Receive Money to 'Adopt' Old People (July 28, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
Costa Rica wants to reward families in solidarity with older persons. The network of care programs for older adults will pay a subsidy to families that have an old person in their home who is considered socially vulnerable. To ensure the quality of life of the “adopted,” at least one family member must be trained on how to care for older adults.

Mexico: Experts Ask to Prioritize the Care of Older People (July 25, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
The main problems of older people in Mexico are disability, isolation, neglect and abuse, said experts engaged in research on aging. This sector of the population accounts for 10 percent of the population and is increasing rapidly. During the seminar, "Aging and Social Protection,” health experts asked the government to prioritize the care of older adults in public policy.

Mexico: Lack of Employment for Old and Young People (July 12, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
If you are over 45 years old, it is difficult to find a job in Guadalajara, Mexico. The economic crisis and the issue of unemployment have the most impact on young and older adults. The former have difficulties due to lack of experience and older people have difficulties because of their age. Older adults have plenty of experience but their age stigmatizes them among many employers.

Colombia: Time to Give Up the Keys? Precautions to Elderly Drivers (June 26, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
Older drivers can be dangerous to themselves and others. A study of Legal Medicine shows that in 2009, some 5,796 people were killed in Colombia in traffic accidents, of which 1,098 were ages 60 to 80 years or more. Although most injuries and deaths occur among young men, seniors are the next largest group of victims. Therefore, it is very important for older persons to identify the right time to stop driving.

Canada: Canadians and Retirement (June 14, 2010)
(Article in French)
According to an opinion poll, retired Canadians are worried about the quality of life for their remaining days. The opinion poll also discloses that later retirees are more confident about their financial means than those who retired earlier. While the Ministers of Finance of Canada gathered at Prince Edward Island to discuss the retirement system changes, the government published the poll. 

Bolivia: More than 33,400 Old People Suffer Neglect and Abuse in Bolivia (June 14, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
The Ombudsman of Bolivia, Rolando Villena, reported that more than 33,400 older persons in the country suffer neglect and abusive conditions in Bolivia. Villena said the Ombudsman institutions will address this issue through efforts to raise awareness, through various means including volunteering, educational programs, and cultural events that help draw attention to abusive situations. 

Bolivia: Demonstration against Mistreatment of Older Adults (June 13, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
The United Association of the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities held a demonstration against the mistreatment and abuse of older people in La Paz. "As our society ages, the percentage of mistreatment of older adults increases rapidly," said the head of the association, Ledy Suarez. The march commemorated World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15.

Ecuador: World Forum in Ecuador to Treat Aging (June 4, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
Dr. Marco Proaño Maya presented his book, Life has no Age, in the auditorium of Catholic University of Ecuador. Proaño warned that societies need to react quickly to the the rapid aging of the population. He proposed creating a global forum, based in Ecuador, to raise international awareness and help old people to utilize their skills. 

France: Twelve Proposals to Adapt Housing to the Aging Population (June 2, 2010)
(Article in French)
As the French population ages, the country needs to improve and adapt its housing options to old people. The secretary of state with the National Agency for Housing has stated that some measures should be implemented very soon to address the problem. The Government allotted 500 million Euros to The National Agency for Housing for the next seven years to encourage older persons to make repairs on their houses.

Argentina: Old People and the Benefits of New Technologies (June 1, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
The Extension Department of the National University of Litoral is organizing a computer workshop for seniors. They will create meeting places for older people to realize their potential, promote their integration into new technologies and strengthen their identity in a society of rapid change.

Peru: Retirees Increasingly Face Phone Scams (May 31, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
Phone scammers love to find an older person who falls for their tricks. The head of the National Police Division of Scams, Colonel Pedro Franco, explained that criminals call their victims and say that they have an outstanding bonus for them but they must pay first 10% of it to a specific account number if they want to collect it. The Scams Division has dismantled 14 gangs and arrested 25 people so far this year for this type of crime.

Canada: Baby Boomers Consider Themselves Young and in Good Health (May 7, 2010)
(Article in French)
According to a recent survey, Quebecois baby boomers feel 10 years younger than they really are. They set the age of the elderly at 80, and are actively preparing for their retirement. Eighty-one percent of them have a regular medical check-up and plan to remain involved in their community. Sixty-five percent plan to live mostly on their own once they retire; 50% rely upon state services to provide assistance (meals, specific care, etc.).

Colombia: The Market and Old Age (May 3, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
In Colombia, marketing agencies are beginning to target the increasing population of older persons. While some see this as stereotyping the “old,” others argue that this is a smart way to increase revenues while providing this population with new services and benefits.

Canada: Wow! Grandma is a Rebel! (April 27, 2010)
(Article in French)
This article is about the “Raging Grannies.” They are social justice activists, all women old enough to be grandmothers, who dress up in clothes that mock stereotypes of older women, and sing protest songs. They typically write the lyrics themselves, putting their political messages to the tunes of well-known songs. Their causes include peace and environmental activism. 

Canada: Elder Abuse Among Immigrants a Growing Concern (April 26, 2010) 
Increased reports of elder abuse among the immigrant population in the Toronto area have sparked concern. Many of the seniors reporting elder abuse have stated that they were not aware that they were being abused and only after learning about preventing it were they able to recognize past abuses. Immigrant seniors are often abused financially and emotionally at the hands of their Canadian family members or caretakers and must be made aware of their rights before the abuse occurs.

Canada: Elderly to Get a Best Quality of Life (April 16, 2010)
(Article in French)
The Quebec Government will grant up to 11 million dollars a year over the next three years to encourage and support older persons in this period of their lives. As the secretary Marguerite Blais says, "ageing is not a disease" and all must be done in order to help elders stay active in society. Dr Rémi Bouchard adds that medicine is only a part of elder needs. Projects like "La société Alzheimer" or "Carrefour des aînés de la capitale" have been created to take care for them to avoid loneliness. At the provincial level, the Government will support 200 projects. 

Mexico: GDF Committed to Combating Elder Abuse (April 10, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
Marcelo Ebrard, Chief of the Federal District Government, has created a specific agency aimed at targeting elder abuse. Titled the Specialized Agency for Defense of the Elderly, this agency will address violations committed against the older population in Mexico. Ebard recognizes the shift in family care giving and hopes that programs such as this will prevent future elder abuse.

Argentina: Sexuality Courses Offered to Grandparents (April 8, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish)
The Argentine government is sponsoring courses on sexuality and older persons. These courses provide education on maintaining a healthy diet and other helpful tips for not losing sexual desire in old age. According to the author, older people reap tremendous health benefits if they can maintain a healthy sex life for both body and spirit.

Canada: Elderly Pedestrians More At Risk (April 6, 2010)
(Article in French)
In 2009 in Montreal, two pedestrians, victims of a fatal accident, were over 55 years old. The assumption is that older pedestrians are involved in accidents because they often walk more slowly than young people and have poorer sight and hearing. Consequently, the Montreal Police Service decided to focus its prevention campaigns on older people to increase motorist awareness about their particular needs and physical shortcomings. The number of pedestrians killed in Montreal is currently decreasing thanks to speed reduction and an increase in the number of policemen regulating traffic.

Mexico: Protecting the Vulnerable Over 60 Years Old, Old Town Goal (April 3, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish) 
A new program in Durango called “Old Town” offers a wide range of services to those who need them. The residents enjoy many free services, such as a comprehensive geriatric assessment, program support to new entrants, continuous monitoring, therapies to improve functional capacity and mental health of residents through rehabilitation techniques; occupational workshops, an emergency button in each room, dental, medical consultation, psychological consultation and podiatry. Adults are self-sufficient and independent. They enter and leave Old City according to their needs, making them independent and in control of their decisions.

Bolivia: Elderly Patients Living in Nursing Homes and Hospitals Not Allowed to Vote (April 3, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
Older persons living in nursing homes, patients admitted to hospitals or clinics and older persons admitted to rehabilitation centers were not able to cast their vote for departmental and municipal elections on April 4 because the National Electoral Court (CNE) had not made preparations for these persons to vote.

Canada: A Restricted Driver's License Better Than Nothing (March 29, 2010)
(Article in French)
In Alberta, health experts propose to grant a 'limited' driver's license to older persons instead of totally preventing them from driving once their reflexes have slowed down. A driver's license represents independence. A study currently underway will test older people's capabilities on the road and the conclusions will be announced in 2014. 

Canada: Old People Illiteracy, a Silent Handicap (March 27 2010)
(Article in French) 
In Quebec, about half of the population cannot fully participate in social opportunities, partly because of reading difficulties. Illiteracy is frequent among older persons, affecting between 40 and 80 percent of the older population. It can be a barrier to both health and culture.

Canada: Program Aims to Curb Elder Abuse in Asian Community (March 25, 2010)
A new initiative of Winnipeg's Filipino community targets elder abuse and prevent it from being tolerated in the name of cultural tradition. The Innovative Cultural Approaches to the Prevention of Elder Abuse Program received more than $100,000 in federal funding on March 19. Program designer Gemma Dalayoan said its preventative efforts can't begin soon enough. "Elder abuse is like a cancer that spreads quietly and rapidly without being noticed," said Dalayoan, president of the Manitoba Association of Filipino-Canadian Teachers. Her organization and Knights of Rizal will be offering the program in partnership. Dalayoan said the ICAPEA program focuses on Winnipeg's Asian communities and doesn't aim to replace Canada's existing elder abuse awareness and prevention programs.

Canada: Prison Population In Canada Is Aging (March 20, 2010) 
(Article in French)
In Canada 22% of prisoners are over 50 years old. The federal prison of Montée-Saint Francois in Montreal has one of the more aged populations in the country: more than half of the prisoners are over 50. Many of them were condemned because of sexual abuses. They are often discouraged, don't have any social life, don't want to think about the future and sometimes cannot work because of their precarious health. Prisons have to adapt to this growing aging population and to provide specific services to meet their particular needs.

Canada: Aging Women (March 20, 2010)
(Article in French)
Society tends to reject older women. According to journalist Nathalie Collard, many people discriminate against them because they cannot procreate anymore and thus have a “lower value.” She also denounced the fact that younger women are considered the model of aestheticism in today's society. 

Mexico: Popular Initiative Presented for Older Adult Law (March 19, 2010)
(Article in Spanish) 
Government authorities in the city of Xalapa in the State of Veracruz presented a legal initiative that would protect the older population. In Veracruz it is estimated that 11.79 percent of the population is older than 60 years of age, making it the second largest older population in the country. At the moment there is no legal protection for this group. Many older people live in poverty. The law proposes the creation of the Veracruzan Institute for the Older Person to represent and help the elderly population.

Argentina: The Olympics for the Older Age Started in Puerto Madryn (March 13, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish) 
More than six hundred older adults from all over the country participated in the various activities organized for the XXI Older Age National Olympics. “We are proud and happy that taking into account the time of crisis we are going through in the country, the elderly have realized that they have to enjoy life and they are having a good time with the activities that are offered," said Irene Urquia one of the collaborators from the Center of Retired Older Adults of Puerto Madryn.

Haiti: Earthquake's Burdens Weigh Heavily on Haiti's Elderly (March 12, 2010)
No strangers to hardship, older Haitians find themselves distinctly vulnerable and emotionally burdened these days. They have grown old in a place where so many people die young. With longevity comes survivor's guilt. A preliminary census released last month by an aid organization found that roughly 7 percent, or about 84,000, of the estimated 1.2 million Haitians who had been displaced by the earthquake are over 60 years old. Officials often overlook older people in relief efforts because they are frail, less mobile and less vocal in their demands for food and water, United Nations officials explain. But the needs of the old seem elusive, advocates say, because they include intangibles like security, continuity and hope. 

Mexico: The Older Adult is the Most Important Member of the Family (March 7, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish) 
The Department of Human and Social Development of the State of Morelos in Mexico has launched an initiative on behalf of the older population. The program's main objective is the insertion of older adults into the labor force. “You have to draw on the wisdom of older adults; we must involve them in the work life because they have much to teach current and future generations,” explained Esponda Gaxiola, General Secretary. 

Canada: Protect Yourself Against Fraud (March 4, 2010)
People pretending to be relatives in trouble are targeting seniors in the hope of catching them off-guard. Fortunately, more seniors are empowering themselves to nip such attempts in the bud. They are learning about these scams, as well as alerting police. Awareness of scams is growing among older adults, empowering them to not only keep their peers informed, but also their families. Where they might once have told their grandchildren not to talk to strangers, the current advice might be not to give their social security number to someone asking for it on the Facebook social networking website.

Ecuador: 30 Older Adults Learn How to Use the Internet (March 1, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish) 
The Center of Experience for the Older Adult in Quito began offering computer classes to the older population in the city. The Internet has become an attractive tool since many older adults want to learn how to do Internet transactions and also how to communicate with their families and friends in other places. “We have to be more up to date to keep up with modernity. Age is not a problem when there is will and determination,” a 78-year-old student said. 

Bolivia: Older Adults Ask Police Authorities for More Security (February 28, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish) 
Older adults in Bolivia are demanding more attention from the police since many have been robbed while cashing their monthly pension checks. The older population receives a monthly social pension of 200 bolivianos, called the dignity bonus, to cover personal expenses. Sadly, many older persons save their money for several months to cash a bigger sum later on, making them a more attractive target to robbers. It has been reported that older persons have been hurt--physically and psychologically--because this pension is the only money they have to help them live with dignity.

Haiti: Elderly Lack Food, Medicine and Dignity in Post-Quake (February 22, 2010)
Despite the risks facing younger women and children in Haiti since the quake left 1.2 million people homeless, older persons represent the most vulnerable group by far, according to a rapid needs assessment conducted by the United Nations in mid-January. Older people, however, are in danger of being overlooked by the relief effort, says HelpAge International, which has been trying to improve conditions for the elderly since the 7.0 quake that killed 212,000 people. Through the efforts of NGO's and other international organizations, living conditions for old people may begin to improve.

Honduras: The Grandmother of the Grandparents (February 20, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish) 
Eighty-five-year-old Engracia Ramona Sevilla heads Casa Eva, an assisted living facility that she shares with four other older adults. She takes care of the house and has gained the respect of its residents and the volunteers that come to help. Her passion is to help others; she prefers to feed her younger friends before touching her own food. In Honduras it is estimated that there are more than 500,000 older adults; only 1.5 percent benefit from a pension. Unfortunately, studies show that the average pension is below the minimum wage.

Colombia: Older Adults Showed Vitality (February 16, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish) 
Last Monday Colombians celebrated the Barranquilla Carnival along with the 10th Carnival of Older Persons. Six different folkloric groups danced in the parade stepping fast to traditional dances and wearing beautiful costumes. Groups of older people came to the event and proved that age is not an obstacle to participate and enjoy the Carnival from beginning to end. “I've been participating for 10 years and every year I look forward to entertaining everyone with my dance. I am 63 years old and I still have a lot of strength,” said Carmen Sierra, the 2010 Queen of the Carnival.

Cuba: To Teach With Love (February 15, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish) 
The University of Havana launched a special educational program for older people on Valentine's Day. The program started 10 years ago and has now extended to a national level. It offers older adults the opportunity to continue learning in a University setting and at the same time be able to share their knowledge with younger students. “Education is not the patrimony of any age,” says the director. Thanks to the program, many students are aware of the aging issue and are now specializing in Geriatrics at the University. 

Ecuador: Salt and Pepper for 5 Older Women (February 15, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish)
Five older women have created their own catering company named “Salt & Pepper.” The Center of Experience of the Older Adult (CEAM) in Quito is their main client; every time they have an event they order food from the micro business. The five women work in the afternoon after they have finished with their regular day's work. They prepare all kinds of traditional meals and finger food for the events. “To have our own business makes us feel useful,” says one of the owners. 

Canada: Love Would Become Stronger With Aging (February 13, 2010)
(Article in French)
According to a recent Canadian study, older persons are happier in love. On the Spanier scale, used to measure satisfaction in a couple's relationship, people of 65 years old and over score between 119 and 120 points, whereas the national average is 114. The Spanier scale measures sexual satisfaction, but also communication and how the couple cooperate and relate to one another.

Chile: More and More Grandmothers Drug Trafficking (February 13, 2010)
(Article in French)
In Chile, more and more older persons are drawn into drug trafficking. Indeed, drug dealers hire seniors, especially women, because they don't draw the attention of the police and often are supported by their neighbors. In fact, drug trafficking is a way for grandmothers to escape poverty and have an income to support themselves. 

Haiti: Elderly Haitians Getting by on 1 Meal a Day (February 11, 2010)
Elder Haitians camping in tents outside their collapsed nursing home are eating one meal a day of rice and dried beans, trying to make a supply last and wondering what they will do when that runs out. They are like thousands of other victims of Haiti's Jan. 12 earthquake, waiting desperately for aid to reach them four weeks after the world responded with unprecedented amounts of food and money - too much for aid workers and Haitians to distribute. No food aid reached the Asile Commune home, on the edge of Port-au-Prince's Bel Air slum. Despite visits by aid groups and U.S. Marines, long-term help has not materialized.

Chile: City Authorities Offer Solution to Older Adult Who Lived Without Running Water for 8 Months (January 29, 2010)
(Article in Spanish) 
Despite living in front of the city's water plant, an older man was not able to receive running water at his home. The situation went on for eight months until one of his neighbors, María Bizama, filed a complaint on his behalf and called it to the attention of the media. As a result, city officials promised to fix the problem, and Nicasio Cea Garcés will soon live in dignity with running water at his home. Authorities also reminded the community to use the Older Person Hotline designed to denounce any abuse or mistreatment and also to find information about the services and opportunities offered to older people.

Chile: Old Age Acts! Regional Radio Theater Revived (January 20, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish)
Older people in Coltauco created a talk show on the local radio station called “Older People in Action!” With this initiative, the older people can express their thoughts and concerns and share their knowledge with the whole community. They recently held a show dedicated to the great philosopher Aristotle, talking about his life and works, helping the younger generations learn something new and interesting. This project shows that age is not an impediment to doing what you like. 

Chile: University of Valparaíso Gave 21 Diplomas to the Graduating Class of 2009 of the Program University of the Older Adult. (January 15, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish) 
After two years of study, 21 older adults graduated with certificates in Art Appreciation, Valparaiso Patrimony, English and Computers from the University of Valparaiso Program for the Older Adult. The program started in 2002 to create activities for the growing older population--in this region, 13.9 percent of the population. This year the University plans to expand the program and offer more courses taught by prestigious academics of the University. 

Chile: The First Center for Long Stays of Older People Opened in Chile (January 15, 2010)
(Article in Spanish) 
This February the Center for Long Stay for Older People will start functioning, thanks to the National Secretary of the Older Adults in Chile. The Center will house around 72 people over the age of 60, offering gardens and large spaces with natural light and equipped for the comfort of older persons. “The older people are being left behind in a world that moves faster every day and this space will give its residents a place to live with more tranquility,” a senior citizen said. 

Argentina: Taking Care of Those Who Take Care (January 11, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish)
The program, “Live at Home,” created by the Undersecretary of the Third Age of the City of Buenos Aires, helps many older people become more independent. The people who apply are given a stipend to pay for their rent and basic living expenses and this way they can stop living in nursing homes. They avoid institutionalization in nursing homes and enjoy the possibility to live by themselves with an option of having a geriatrics expert visit for regular checkups. 

Costa Rica: Candidate for Congress Victim of Abuse for Being an Older Adult (January 11, 2010)
(Article in Spanish) 
José Joaquín Vargas was going to his usual medical checkup when he entered the bus and showed his senior citizen identification. The bus driver seemed bothered by Mr. Vargas and called him a “lazy old man.” At age 72, Vargas is one of the candidates for Congress in Costa Rica, and is tired of being treated as an inferior person just because he's old. “With the support of my fellow senior citizens we will have a voice in the Assembly and a chance to defend our rights as Costa Rican citizens," he proclaimed in a recent speech. His campaign's priority is raising awareness about the rights of older persons. 

Mexico: Older People are Asked to Denounce Mistreatment (January 8, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish) 
The institute for care of older people in the Federal District has found many cases where families victimize their elderly relatives. It is known that some relatives take advantage of the older person's benefits such as food stamps and pensions. In consequence, the institute has started to cancel food stamps not claimed by the beneficiary. In addition, the institute has asked older people to report any mistreatment, violation or forgery of identity that might result in loss of their property. 

Ecuador: Tourism Now Focused on Older Travelers (January 3, 2010)
(Article in Spanish) 
The Ministry of Tourism offers offer travel packages for older people. The program, called “Travel Easy,” includes discounted tickets and special sales for hotels and resorts. According to the program director, more than 200 businesses have joined the program and they meet the accessibility requirements for older people, including ramps, comfortable spaces and areas to rest. During this first stage, the Ministry will only offer a discount; however, in the second trimester of 2010, Social Security and Fomento National Bank will start funding travel costs for the elderly. 

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Asia Pacific

Background Documents

India: National Policy for Older Person (1999)
The Indian National Policy on older persons attempts to assure the well-being of older Indians as well as to value an age integrated society. Against that background, the national policy is based on principles of financial security, health care, shelter, and welfare, among others.

Reports | Articles

Reports

India & Nepal: Signing of Memorandum of Understanding Between Geriatric Center Nepal and Senior Citizens Council of Delhi, India (May 17-22, 2010)
This interesting report records the process of two institutions devoted to older persons in their respective countries, Geriatric Center Nepal (GCN) in Nepal and Senior Citizens Council of Delhi (SCCD) in India. These centers collaborated with the commitment to serve the aging population in both countries. The collaboration spanned three months and set an example for the cooperation of aging and advocacy-related NGOs in neighboring countries.

Japan: The Role of Home Ownership in Japan's Aged Society (February 2010)
Among the many social issues Japan is facing due to its increasingly aging population, home ownership has been at the center of these core issues. Japanese society has had a long history of being focused and driven by home-ownership. Since the 1990s, a more volatile and uncertain economy has made it more difficult for younger cohorts to access home ownership, undermining traditional mechanisms for maintaining the ‘home-owning society.’ Within older cohorts, economic conditions relating to home ownership have also become noticeably differentiated, leading to considerable stratification among older persons. 

Pakistan: Elder Abuse: Tip of the Ice Berg (January 2010)
The current demographic profile of Pakistan shows a total population as 172,800,048, among which the population over 65 years of age constitutes 4.2%. In view of the widespread poverty, economic disparities and inadequate health facilities, older people are suffering a number of setbacks. Increasingly, Pakistanis live in nuclear families, a situation that increases older persons’ problems for care. The government of Pakistan sought to learn about a number of problems among elderly. Some that they identified included loneliness, depression, fear of dying, lack of social relations, painful medical conditions, deprivation, lack of resources, and loss of a partner. Old people form an important group of the population. Any neglect or abuse will have long term negative repercussions for the society in general and country in particular.

Asia: Research Notes: Ageing in Asia Trends, Impacts and Responses (2009)
By the middle of this century, Asia's older population will reach 922.7 million, and its share of population 17.5 per cent from just 4.1 per cent in 1950. Asia is poised to become the oldest region in the world. Governments and citizens in Asia must create policies and effective structures and institutions to address this challenge. They face a huge and complex undertaking that requires a big head start. The author analyses the impact that aging is having in Asia and examines the policy options, pointing out that different sub-regions may require different responses. 

Australia: Experience Works: The Mature Age Employment Challenge (July 2009)
The new report has found unemployment in older Australians goes unnoticed. Because unemployment in their demographic is too often considered as early retirement, mature workers are often overlooked in jobless figures. Compared to other countries Australia is not very disciplined when it comes to employing older people. Older persons are victims of discrimination and their contribution they can make in the workplace is often underrated. This report is dealing with aging issues at the workplace and with employment of mature people. It shows the difficulties that older workers face, such as underemployment, training barriers, aged-base discrimination, etc. This report is also giving good mature age employment policies that have been implemented in different countries and that are promoting a better integration of older persons in the workplace. 

Thailand: National Policies and Programs for the Aging Population in Thailand (January 2009)
Thailand established the National Elderly Council in 1982 to begin to address issues impacting the elderly. Nine years later, in 1991, as the United Nations Assembly recognized elderly rights with respect to autonomy, involvement, care, self-satisfaction and esteem Thailand established the “National Committee of Senior Citizens,” culminating in 2002 with the Second National Plan for Older Person (2002–2021). This plan focused on the development of policies and programs to support older persons. Some successful program activities are highlighted: promoting a positive attitude toward elderly persons, promoting health for the elderly, and social protection for the elderly. The Second National Plan for Older Persons in Thailand is being successfully implemented and progress has been made at many levels toward building an aging-friendly society. The Thai government needs to continue to play an active role in facilitating the implementation of the plan and, as importantly, there needs to be commitments from all participating sectors (public, private, municipalities) in order to achieve the identified aims set forth in the plan.

                                                             Articles

Japan: Man Kept Dead Mother in a Backpack (August 20, 2010)
Japanese investigators have been searching for missing old people. In the latest gruesome discovery, a woman's son told police that his mother died in 2001 but he was unable to pay for a burial. Some 40,000 old people in Japan are listed as above 100 years of age. Investigators are now searching to find whether the centenarians are living; Japanese officials believe that dishonest relatives may have been exploiting the welfare system. 

Japan: 200 People Over 100 Years Old Remain Missing in Japan (August 13, 2010)
(Article in French)
Following the case of Sogen Kato, a national investigation has led to the conclusion that more than 200 Japanese centenarians are missing, probably dead. The city of Kobe has the most cases of disappearances with 105 out of its 847 centenarians unaccounted for. The Japanese public is shocked and the families of the disappeared suspect fraud.

Japan: Editorial: Missing Old People (August 5, 2010)
(Article also in available in Chinese)
More than 40,000 citizens in Japan are over 100 years of age; however, not all old people are cared for by their families. An increasing number of cases of missing older citizens reflect that old people and their families are out touch with one another.

Indonesia: Older Persons Bury Themselves to Avoid Eviction (August 4, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
Three Indonesian older persons buried themselves in protest against government orders to remove them from their homes. They buried themselves in holes 50 cm deep so only their heads were visible. The residents admitted that they do not own the land but this is their last hope to persuade Jakarta’s government to allow them to stay.

Burma: Fabled Burmese Fighters Forgotten (August 2, 2010)
Sixty-five years after World War II, many Burmese Karen tribesmen veterans are still living in poverty and hardship. During war times, the tribesmen fought with the British to drive the Japanese out of Burma. However, these veterans now live as refugees in jungle camps astride the Thai-Burmese border or inside their ravaged homeland.

India: No Country for Old People? (July 30, 2010)
India is facing problems of aging. By 2050, a quarter of the population will be over 60. The need of services for seniors is increasing, especially for older people in global families. With children working overseas, the graying generation in India is not only calling for new laws to guarantee them a fulfilling retirement life, but also preparing for a non-traditional elder lifestyle, that is leaving their homes to go to nursing homes and senior care centers.

Japan: A New PC for Seniors in Japan (July 27, 2010)
(Article in French)
Fujitsu unveiled its new computer this week. While the number of seniors increases and makes up 30% of the Japanese population, the company reports that only a low proportion of seniors use PCs. This new computer, simple to use, has been especially created for older persons. Already half of Japanese over 60 years old use a Fujitsu phone, the raku-raku phone.

China: More than 8 Million Older Persons Need to Reside in Nursing Homes (July 27, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
According to the Chinese Welfare Fund for the Elderly, 8.3 million older Chinese need to stay in institutions that provide services and care for them. However, the service industry cannot meet the needs of so many; at present, only 3 million beds are available.

Australia: Smart Houses Key to Keeping the Elderly at Home (July 27, 2010)
Healthy Longevity, a security equipment company in Australia, introduced a recent technology to benefit the elderly: the smart house. According to the company, smart houses equipped with movement sensors and intelligent systems help keep aged people well and living in their own homes.

South Korea: 1 Million Older Persons Living Alone (July 23, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
According to Korean statistics, more than one million older persons over the age of 65 are now living alone. The number of older persons living without a spouse or children has been increasing by 50,000 every year. These numbers reflect the fact that Korean society is aging very rapidly, pointing to the urgent need for adequate social programs for this population.

India: Resorts for the Elderly (July 23, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
Due to economic and social changes, as well as shrinkage of the traditional family, a new housing sector has emerged for older persons. Due to the growing number of retirees, real estate companies are now focused on building luxury homes for the retired in an effort to provide comfortable housing for them in urban areas. And what about the poor?

China: China's Seniors May be Exempt from Death Penalty (July 23, 2010)
Favoring youth and seniors in terms of criminal treatment was always a tradition in ancient China. For the first time, China’s lawmakers are lightening death penalty charges by suggesting that senior citizens be exempted from the death penalty, according to the eighth amendment to China’s Criminal Law.

Japan: Future Shock: Japan Faces Demographic Nightmare (July 21, 2010)
Japanese citizens confront a severe demographic problem. According to some researchers, the Japanese government must try to tackle the current low fertility rate, high life expectancy and a traditional discouragement of immigration. It is estimated that by 2055, 40% of the Japanese population will be age 65 years or above; most will not be in the workforce, it’s predicted. Perhaps Japanese will devise a way to meet these challenges as the climate changes and threatens the territory of island nations.

Japan: Elderly Living Alone Increasingly Dying The Same Way (July 21, 2010)
Japanese society has seen an increase in the number of people dying alone, so much so that they have named it “Kodokushi” (lonely death). The number of people aged over 65 who died alone has increased: 2,211 in 2008 compared to 1,364 in 2002. The government assumed that families would step in to take care of older persons, thus minimizing funding for social welfare. 

China: Older Man Got Fined for Laughing in Court (July 18, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Tianfang Yuan, a senior citizen in Wuxi, China, was fined 1000 RMB (around $150) due to interference with a court order. Mr. Yuan sat in the court as a member of the audience. However, he laughed and talked loudly during the trial and ignored warnings from the judge. Yuan eventually paid the fine after the local court rejected his appeal.

China: One Million Extra Octogenarians Each Year (July 16, 2010)
(Article in French)
According to a recent Chinese Committee on Aging report, the proportion of seniors is growing in China. The number of people over 80 years is expected to increase by one million each year. This phenomenon is the direct consequence of the one-child policy. It is a challenge for China, because the retirement system, the global economy and the service industry are not ready for the aging population.

Australia: Older Homosexuals Unnoticed (July 15, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
A study in Australia shows that older gay people are made to feel invisible in nursing homes. One third of caregivers that participated in the survey affirmed that they do not provide a welcoming environment for older gay people. The authors of this study, Curtin University and GRAI (Association of Retired LGTB), will create new guidelines for the care and protection of this group. 

China: Elderly Marriage Confronts Multiple Difficulties (July 12, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Cohabitation among older persons in China is becoming popular. Remarriage was once considered against tradition. A parent proposing to take such a step faced strong opposition from the children. Also, dealing with property ownership after marriage adds more difficulty for older persons. A lawyer suggests that younger adults should respect their parent’s remarriage and work together for a good solution.

Japan: Elderly Woman Breaks Student's Nose for Failing to Give Up Bus Seat (July 9, 2010)
Tamiko Masuta, a 66-year-old Japanese woman, was arrested for assaulting a teenager. Masuta attacked a student and broke his nose after he refused to give her his seat on a bus. This incident reveals the fact that some older people in Japan still expect the younger generation to follow tradition and show respect to them. However, young Japanese now have ambiguous viewpoints on manners and on older persons.

Philippines: How to Get Rid of Bad Air with Laughter Yoga (July 6, 2010)
Dr. Madan Kataria founded Laughter Yoga in India in 1995; now there are 6,000 Social Laughter Clubs in 60 countries. In the Philippines, Paolo Trinidad has introduced the new yoga approach to a range of students including abused children being treated at Hospicio de San Jose, the oldest orphanage in the country. According to him, “seniors are so easy to teach.” During laughter yoga, participants simulate laughter and combine it with traditional yoga breathing and postures. During the yoga sessions, he uses such techniques as smile medication, and states that 15 minutes of laughter yoga is equivalent to a 30-minute jog.

Thailand: Youth Do Have Time for Elderly: Study (July 3, 2010)
A study discovered that school-going children and working adults have a positive attitude toward older persons. Researchers also found that students in a higher socio-economic stratum are more likely to hold positive attitudes toward older people, but this phenomenon does not exist among working-age people.

India: India’s Elderly Make a Move for Freedom (July 3, 2010)
Older residents in the Ashiana Utsav community of Bhiwadi, India, are enjoying their sunset lives. Breaking a tradition of living with their children, the older persons gather in a retirement community and have a fulfilling social life. The Ashiana Utsav retirement community exemplifies how Western-style retirement centers can be adapted for India to serve the elderly in their later years. But what is the financial cost? 

South Korea: Crisis in South Korea: Feisty Old People Who Want Subway Seats (June 21, 2010)
In South Korea, some seats in the subway are reserved for the handicapped, pregnant, and elderly. Sometimes disputes break out between younger people and older people over who has the right to those seats. Read this South Korean blogger who writes about the tensions between the generations.

China: 80-year-old Man Sued His Daughter Due to Homeownership Conflict (June 19, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
In 2002, Mr. Liu asked his daughter to help him purchase an apartment in Nanjing, China. However, when Liu decided to sell the apartment in 2009, he found his daughter was listed as the property owner on the real estate license. Liu sued his daughter and vowed to “fight till the end.”

China: China Will Enter Severe Aging Stage by 2050 (June 18, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
By the year 2050, there will be one senior person (older than 60 years old) for every three people in China. This group may face multiple challenges: a lack of public social pensions and incomplete community service for older persons and potential health product scams. However, the Chinese may come up with inventive approaches that will serve the older citizens of 2050. 

China: Empty Nest Tragedy: Divorced Older Man Found Dead at Home (June 18, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Mr. Meng, a 68-year-old man in Tianjin, China, was found dead at home almost one month after he passed away. After his divorce, Meng lived by himself while his children worked abroad. His tragedy is a reflection of the “Empty Nest Elderly” in China. Older persons, whose children live away from them, need both nursing assistance and psychological attention.

North Korea: Older Generation Living in Fear of War (June 14, 2010)
Older people living in North Korea are still fearful about the possibility of war between North and South Korea. Especially older persons who experienced the Korean War during the 1960s, say that they “cannot take another war during our lifetime.” 

Malaysia: Is There Life after 50? (June 13, 2010)
Although not entering the aging stage as early as their developed country counterparts, Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia will face aging issues in the coming decade. By 2020, there will be 3.3 million older people in Malaysia, 210% more than in 1990. The Malaysian Aging Society suggests that life is better for older people because of greater self-confidence. Women, in particular, are urged to discover their own identity.

Japan: In Gray Japan, Mountain Victims Are Older (June 10, 2010)
In Japan, mountain climbing is a popular outdoor sport. However, statistics show that the victims in Fuji Mountain climbing accidents tend to be increasing as older people have taken up the sport. From 2006 to 2009, 10 out of the 16 deaths in Fuji Mountain climbing accidents were climbers 40 years and older. The oldest was a 69-year-old man.

India: Older Persons in Indian Society Challenge Traditions and Taboo Practices (May 31, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
Second marriages among older persons and the establishment of romantic relationships later in life, through the internet and social networking sites--not to mention through the help of their children--are indicative of significant changes in traditional Indian society in recent decades. Older people in India are living their lives with more energy as opposed to the past trend of simply remaining at home and practicing religious worship. 

Laos: Elderly Laotian's Wish Granted: He's Going Home (May 20, 2010)
John Doe Xiong, an 88-year-old Laotian who never got his passport returned after failing to apply for political asylum in 2008, finally got his passport and will go back to Laos soon. Laos’ government held Mr. Xiong, a Hmong tribesman who fought on the US side, held him prisoner for more than seven years. As his health worsened, Xiong was eager to go home since he wanted to be buried in accordance with Hmong tradition.

China: Community Service for Old People: Japan's Experience and Implications (May 6, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Community service for old people in China has been developing for only two decades and still requires refining. China could learn from Japan by designing community service policies, developing not-for-profit nursing organizations, emphasizing education for caregivers and enriching the social life of the elderly. 

China: Low Marriage Rates of Old People Due to Division of Property (April 27, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
The number of old people posting dating ads is increasing annually. However, only 10% of romance in old age leads to marriage. Children's disagreements, problems of property division and housing arrangements are the main issues that force the majority of old people to cohabit rather than getting married. However, Chinese law does not protect cohabitation.

China: Crime By Rural Old People Cannot Be Ignored (April 15, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Recently, old people in aging rural areas and rural labor migrants in urban areas have turned to crime. The writer focuses on Meixian, China, a rural area where elder crime emerges due to old peoples’ limited understanding of their legal rights and lack of social interaction as they age. Often, old people in rural areas commit crimes against young girls or against the mentally infirm. To reduce crimes by the older rural residents , local governments should combine education about legal rights with appropriate penalties for the perpetrators, along with improving community life for old people.

China: To Protect His Son: Story Behind Self-Immolation (April 2, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
In order to build 310 national highways, several homes were removed. One of which was the property of Xihui Tao, a 92-year-old senior and the father of Xingyao Tao. Tao never reached an agreement with the local government in terms of compensation and believed that 75,000 yuan was too low for an eight-room house and one pig hedge. Fighting against enforced removal, Xihui Tao decided to set fire to himself. 

Japan: Japan's 'Lonely Deaths': A Business Opportunity (April 6, 2010) 
Taichi Yoshida, owner of a small moving business, has noticed a significant trend over the years. An alarming number of those that use his services are the family members of those that have died as 'lonely deaths.' Kodokushi, as this phenomenon is referred to in Japanese, is becoming increasingly common among Japan's aging population. In 2008 in Tokyo, more than 2,200 people over 65 died lonely deaths, according to statistics from the city's Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health. With a lack of space in nursing homes, many of Japan's elderly live alone and receive no care from family members.

Singapore: Family Support for Elderly Under Strain in Asia (April 5, 2010)
The long-time Asian tradition of providing care to the old is quickly passing. With increased modernization and changing traditions, particularly for marriage, Asia's aged cannot solely rely on their children to provide the long-term care necessary in their older years. Public and private institutions, however, have yet to step up in support of the aging population. 

China: 70-Year-Old Senior Made 8 “Cell Apartments” to Solve Housing Problem for Youth (April 1, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Inspired by Japanese “Cell Motels,” Rixin Huang made 8 “Cell Apartments” in one rented apartment at Liulang Zhuang, Beijing Haidian District. Although the rent is only 50 yuan per month, none have been rented. Huang thinks this concept can meet market needs and that young people will eventually take advantage of the opportunity to live in a cell. 

China: Municipal Administration Is Rude Again; Who Is Guarding Rights of Seniors? (March 29, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
The main character reported in this article is over 50 years old. She has no husband and supports a child in college by selling fried yams. While seniors should not move into areas considered illegal to sell their food items, can't government officials at least designate places for them to make a living? This question is especially important if the government is unable to provide social safety nets for seniors.

China: Guangxi Area Seniors Protest Poor Roads (March 28, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Because residents were eager for new roads to be built, they pretended to go out carrying water and knelt down to arouse the attention of government authorities. According to local officials, the plan was to build the road in 2006 with government subsidies. Because of a disagreement about connecting Nongwen Village, construction stopped after one mile. Without roads, it is hard for stay-at-home seniors and kids to connect to the outside world.

China: Guangxi 92 Senior Carried Water For Life, Fell On His Knees To Request Government Built Roads (March 25, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Southwest China is experiencing constant dry weather. Some residents need to walk more than 10 mile long mountain routes to carry water to drink. Young people in rural areas are working in the big cities. Only seniors and children are staying at home. Because roads have not been built since last November, seniors have to carry water from the designated water provision spot. A 92 year old senior cried and hoped the government could build roads as soon as possible. He said he is afraid that one day he may die on the road.

China: Jin Zhou to Hire Nanny for Seniors Over 60 (March 22, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
The government will provide new services to the city's residents who are over 60 years old, who have a low income and cannot live independently. Services include housekeeping service, health service, day care and terminal care. Service stipends can only be used for purchasing stay-at-home services. Recipients cannot use the money for medical costs or any other activity.

India: No Mercy Killing (March 21, 2010)
Mercy killing of terminally ill older persons is a crime in India. But what if there is a social practice by which ill elderly people are put to sleep, with the knowledge of all the family members? Shocking though it may be, Virudhunagar and other southern districts in Tamil Nadu seem to have had a long-established practice called “thalaikoothal” that permits families of older persons who are often bedridden and terminally ill, to give the old person a ceremonial oil bath followed by tender coconut water in the belief that it will induce pneumonia, leading to eventual death. In a rapidly aging population, those lucky to get retirement benefits have at least a bargaining chip with the family. Those without this protection have to suffer the vagaries of stressed-out families, emotionally and financially.

China: When the Senior Cash Coupon Could Be Used Easily (March 18, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Since January 2010, Beijing began to issue seniors over 80 years old 100 yuan senior cash coupon per person per month. However, seniors cannot spend coupons easily. For example, the designated restaurant cannot serve the proper dishes that meet the community’s expectation. Designated groceries are always crowded with seniors. Grocery stores even refuse to accept coupons.

China： The Second Group of Cheap Rental Apartments Have Been Assigned to Disabled Seniors (March 17, 2010) 
(Article in Chinese)
One 70 sq. apartment only costs 30 yuan per month, compared with 39 sq. apartment 400 yuan per month at market rate. This is a great deal for older persons with disabilities.

China： Seniors Are Still Lured to Experience (March 17, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
The press found that the Kang Fu Bao multi-functional healing bed exaggerated its functions and presented false advertisement. However, some seniors are still visiting at stores and want to try it. 

Japan: An “Aging” Economy (March 15, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Will the Japanese economy ever recover? Many economists are pessimistic when they look at the needs of its ever-growing aging population. However, this is no longer solely Japan's challenge. A growing number of older people means many challenges around lifetime saving.

China: Dai Hao: Accelerates Process of Insurance Capital Investment in Industry Serving Seniors (March 10, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
In the Lianghui proposal, Dai Hao suggested that related government agencies should provide policy support for the industry that serves seniors. These supports may include: separating the senior service industry land use from other land use; combining senior industry land use with future city planning; creating the senior service sector as an independent investment item.

China: Liu Jiang, Deputy to National People's Congress, Head of Department of Civil Affairs: Communities to Construct Seniors' Home (March 9, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
In Liu Jiang's mind, the ideal scenario for serving seniors is to provide a gym and game room so they can relax and enjoy the rest of life. The community home for seniors should also provide day care. Families could send seniors to the facility on their way to work and pick them up on the way back home. This is an ideal way to reduce the family pressure of caring for seniors and satisfy seniors' need to socialize at the same time.

China: National Party Congress Member Chen Wanzhi: Many Seniors at Confucius's Hometown Have No Supporters (March 8, 2010) 
(Article in Chinese)
The “Xiao” culture lasted for thousands of years. It emphasized the need for young people to respect, protect and take care of seniors. Chen Wanzhi proposes re-establishing and legalizing the traditional “Xiao” culture.

China: Health Talk Considered Scam by Seniors (March 8, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Seniors at Li Village who attended an early morning health talk considered it a scam. However, those who attended were rewarded with gifts and encouraged to go again. The attendance at these talks has been steadily increasing.

China: Seniors Become Traffic Advisors (March 8, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
A group of seniors started fast walking for exercise and while they walked they witnessed a lot of traffic accidents. After eight years of walking (with no accidents), 500 seniors have now become civil traffic advisors.

China: Seniors Feel Lonelier In Lantern Festival Than In Spring Festival Eve, “Kongchao” Seniors Should Be Careful About After-Holiday Depression (March 1, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Fireworks are everywhere during the Lantern Festival, providing as much happiness among people as in the Spring Festival Eve and the first day of New Year. However, the happier the surrounding celebrations are, the lonelier “Kongchao” seniors may feel.

China: Privileges for Older Persons (February 26, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
The former Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, once said that we give various titles to the current times we live in and he added another title called “Aging Era” to describe it. Many countries around the world have developed facilities and services for older people to cope with this new trend in our time. 

China: I Celebrate Spring Festival With “Kong Chao Seniors” (February 21, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
At every Spring Festival, Chinese people often focus on seniors and senior organizations during the entire celebration. The recent Spring Festival of the Year of the Tiger saw more than 23,000 volunteers in Harerbin visit Kong Chao Seniors' homes. 

China: Seniors in Suqian, Jiangsu Province, Live in a Garage, Get the Attention of Secretary of Municipal Party Committee (February 20, 2010)
(Article in Chinese) 
Garages in communities should be used for cars, bikes and storage. Many older adults in Jiangsu Province who can’t afford more appropriate housing have found that living in garages offers one solution. These conditions have come to the attention of the Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee.

China: Xiamen Established System to Serve Seniors (February 19, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
“An Kang Plan” is a system specifically designed to serve seniors who meet the low-income special care requirements. Those seniors can receive three hours per week from a housekeeping service and one hour per week of medical service with the local government assuming all expenses.

China: How do Older People Choose Nursing Homes? (February 17, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
A study reveals that one of the biggest reasons that older people move to a nursing home is “lack of family support.” Some people decide to live in a nursing home because they do not want to trouble their children. They answered that price matters the most when they choose their future “home,” mainly because they tend to have few financial resources. 

China: Hainan Trees Shade the Street, Winter Resort for Seniors (February 16, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Hainan is located in the most southern part of China, and seniors from the northern part, covered by ice and snow, come to Hainan Province for Winter and Spring festivals. 

China: Seniors Cannot Understand “Chun Wan”; New Words Show Social Trends (February 15, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
“Chun Wan” is a big national celebration TV program presented by the China Central TV Station. Every Spring Festival eve, people--especially middle-aged and senior people--sit in front of the TV to enjoy this show. However, many new words used online were introduced to “Chun Wan” this year, leaving seniors left behind as “internet illiterate.” 

China: This Spring Festival They Are Not Lonely (February 15, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
The Spring Festival is a time traditionally spent with families. In Xinjiang Province, warm-hearted people take home more than 1,000 seniors who have no families to celebrate the New Year. 

China: Celebrate Spring Festival with 21 Parents (February 15, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Ms. Dong spent her spring festival with residents at her home for seniors. Most of them had diseases when they were sent there, and their families did not want to take care of them. At Dong's place, they found a home. 

China: 260 Thousand Seniors are Enjoying Stay-at-Home Senior Care (February 14, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
In 2009, governments in Guizhou Province invested 8.45 million yuan to develop stay-at-home senior care. To assure that the most needy people get care, services are provided free, at low cost or at market cost according to the individual need and income situation.

China: What's After Prison? (February 10, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Many older prisoners find themselves in desperate need of family and social support. Those who find that their families reject them, often fail to readjust to society and end up in prison over and over again. An 86-year-old man, Sun Laiyou, described in the article, is an extreme example of this dilemma.

China: Who Replaces Housekeepers? (February 10, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
As the Chinese New Year approached, many people returned home to their families, and so did many housekeepers. For this reason, house chores became the older parents' responsibility, while their children were at work. Older people have a problem finding time to rest, even after retirement. 

South Korea: 'Creating Jobs for Seniors Crucial' (February 9, 2010)
The welfare policy for older persons should focus on creating jobs, enabling seniors to feel that they are contributing to society. "Senior citizens want to engage in social activities even if they don't get paid for what they do. While working, they wish to do something that could contribute to society," said Cheng Un-tai, chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Federation of the Korean Senior Citizens Association. As chairman of the association representing one million senior citizens in the nation's largest city, Cheng has spearheaded several programs to offer 100,000 jobs each year to senior citizens in Seoul.

China: Communities in Kunming to Establish Day Care Centers Conveniently Located for Seniors (February 7, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Kunming communities are establishing new day care centers within a 15-minute walk from the clientele they serve and will provide needed services to seniors and disabled people. 

China: Shanghai Adds 10,000 More Beds in Seniors' Homes This Year (February 6, 2010) 
(Article in Chinese) 
Shanghai is providing stay-at-home senior care service to 250,000 seniors. At the same time, it is trying to promote “Institution Senior Care,” “Migratory Bird Senior Care” and other types of new senior care models to create a sustainable senior care system. 

India: Ancient Dialect Extinct After Last Speaker Dies (February 5, 2010)
(Article also available in Arabic)
One of the world's oldest dialects, tracing its origins to tens of thousands of years ago, has become extinct after the last person to speak it died on a remote Indian island. Boa Sr, the 85-year-old last speaker of "Bo," was the oldest member of the Great Andamanese tribe, R.C. Kar, deputy director of Tribal Health in Andaman, told Reuters on Friday.

India: Ancient Tribe Becomes Extinct as Last Member Dies (February 5, 2010)
The last member of an ancient tribe that has inhabited an Indian island chain for around 65,000 years has died, a group that campaigns for the protection of indigenous peoples has said. Boa Sr, who was around 85 years of age, died last week in the Andaman islands, about 750 miles off India's eastern coast, Survival International said in a statement. Activists are expressing alarm over her death. Boa Sr was believed to be the oldest of the Great Andamanese, members of ten distinct tribes. Survival International estimates there are now just 52 Great Andamanese left. "Boa's loss is a bleak reminder that we must not allow this to happen to the other tribes of the Andaman Islands," Survival director Stephen Corry said.

China: Tibet Officially Begins New Rural Area Pension System (February 4, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Pension distributions began February 3 as part of the new pension system created for rural areas. The system has two components: a basic pension and an individual pension. Seniors at age 60 or over could receive 55 yuan per month as a basic pension without paying for insurance or a fee. The amount of the basic pension will go up as the economy and social situations improve. 

China: “House Slave” (February 3, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
“Fang Nu” is a term for people who borrow in order to own a house. Since the second half of 2009, the amount of debt has been increasing along with the ever-growing real estate market. Among the people who go into debt, the number of older people has been increasing. Older generations are not buying houses for themselves. They buy houses for their children so they can get married and start their own families. 

China: Huang Xiuliang's “Gu Gua Lao Ren Festival” (February 2, 2010) 
(Article in Chinese)
“Gu Gua Lao Ren” refers to seniors with no relatives to stay with them. January 30, 2010, is the fifth festival at Shandong Heze. Huang Xiuliang, while not a wealthy man, has spent more than 100,000 yuan to help Gu Gua Lao Ren. More than 400 seniors have received help from the society. 

China: Senior Grandma Learns English (February 1, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Liu Mian lives in Suian Zhangpu County, Fu Jian Province. She started to learn English at the age of 66. Now after eight years she can have basic conversations in English. At the senior English class party on January 1, she sang “You and Me,” the theme song of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. 

China: 256 Senior Universities in Xiamen While Most Community Senior Universities Are Not Functional (February 1, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
In Xiamen, senior people at the age of 60 and over account for 12.4% of the number of total citizens. Although over 50% of seniors are willing to learn something new, senior education is still marginalized. The main reason seniors do not attend the schools is that universities for seniors are not located near their homes. 

China: Loneliness Became the Main Concern of “Kong Chao Lao Ren”; They Feel the Society Has Abandoned Them (February 1, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
“Kong chao lao ren” refers to seniors who live alone because of their children's absence for study, work or marriage. Living alone makes them feel lonely and depressed. This phenomenon has become an important social problem.  

China: Senior Grandma Learns English (February 1, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Liu Mian lives in Suian Zhangpu County ,Fu Jian Province. She started to learn English at the age of 66. Now after eight years she can have basic conversations in English. At the senior English class party on January 1, she sang “You and Me,” the theme song of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.  

China: 256 Senior Universities in Xiamen While Most Community Senior Universities Are Not Functional (February 1, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
In Xiamen, senior people at the age of 60 and over account for 12.4% of the number of total citizens. Although over 50% of seniors are willing to learn something new, senior education is still marginalized. The main reason seniors do not attend the schools is that universities for seniors are not located near their homes. 

China: Loneliness Became the Main Concern of “Kong chao laoren”; They Feel the Society Has Abandoned Them (February 1, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
“Kong chao lao ren” refers to seniors who live alone because of their children's absence for study, work or marriage. Living alone makes them feel lonely and depressed. This phenomenon has become an important socialproblem.  

Philippines: 1,000 Grandparents to March to Mendiola (January 31, 2010) 
One thousand senior citizens are scheduled to march from Morayta to Mendiola in Manila Monday morning to press President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to sign the Congress-ratified Expanded Senior Citizens' Act immediately. Fransiskus Kupang, executive director of Coalition of he Services for the Elderly (COSE) said, “We are entitled to the additional benefits specified in he bill. We will fight for our rights to better social protection. We will show our determination with a march to Mendiola. The bill has to be signed.” If passed, the Expanded Senior Citizens' Act seeks better social protection for the country's seven million elderly, including but not limited to additional medical services and insurance, assistance with utilities and a tax exemption. 

China: How to Provide Seniors “Emotional Care” (January 31, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
“Emotional care” refers to emotional and physiological care, where in China the care providers in a family are the children. When seniors don’t receive the respect and the physical care they once enjoyed within the family, they may suffer tremendous emotional pain. 

China: China Senior Industry Association (January 30, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
The China Senior Industry Association was established January 30 in Beijing, China. The organization aims at developing a new market among seniors and strengthening elderly support in every way. Chen Chuanshu became the first president of the organization.

Australia: Jail Those Who Hurt Elderly, Say Police (January 30, 2010)
A disturbing increase in attacks on Queensland's most vulnerable people has police calling for offenders who assault the elderly to be jailed automatically. A series of high-profile attacks in the past 12 months has added to the perception that elderly people are increasingly at risk of violence. Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said people convicted of assaults on people older than 65 should be automatically jailed for a minimum of three months. Police have becoming increasingly frustrated with arresting people who commit crimes of extreme violence only to have the courts impose little or no actual jail time.

Cambodia: Association to Unite Capital's Senior Citizens (January 29, 2010) 
The Ministry of Social Affairs has established Phnom Penh 's first Association for the Elderly, one of hundreds that have been set up nationwide to assist Cambodia 's senior citizens. Members of the association are required to pay dues of 2,000 riels (about U.S. $0.50) per month, which are used to provide financial assistance to members who become sick or injured. “We wanted to establish this Association for the Elderly because it expresses that we are paying attention to the old people, not only in the province but also in the city,” said Dr. Pay Sambo, deputy director of the retirement and pensions department at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation.

China: Wulumuqi, Senior Welfare Service Organizations Could Obtain Three Kinds of Subsidies in 2010 (January 26, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Subsidies include an opening subsidy, an operation subsidy and a low income support subsidy. The organizations will need the government’s approval and depending on the scale and satisfaction of residents, organizations will get different amounts of supporting aid. 

China: An End of One-Child Policy? (January 25, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Shanghai is one of the most aged cities in China. It has launched a variety of governmental projects to cope with its aging population. One of them is to encourage a second child. Interestingly, the idea hasn't excited many Chinese couples so far, although lifting the ban on the one-child policy may seem one approach to caring for China's aging population. 

India: Indian Elders Fear Fraying Family Net (January 24, 2010)
As India's elderly population grows, the traditional structure of a large, extended family is changing. While the elderly members of the family used to be respected and cared for unconditionally, many issues, both cultural and economic, are changing this dynamic. Some younger relatives simply ignore the older ones, saying that they do not have the time, resources, or interest to care for them. Many older persons are beginning to move into old-age homes where they can engage with people their own age and be part of a more lively community.

Philippines: Bill Pushed Imposing Stiff Penalties on Violence vs Elderly Pushed (January 24, 2010)
A bill seeking to impose stiffer penalties on physical and emotional violence against older people has been getting strong bipartisan support in the House of Representatives. Senior Citizens party-list Rep. Godofredo Arquiza last week filed House Bill No. 7107 with the Lower House set to adjourn in three weeks. HB 7107 proposes special protection for senior citizens who are sometimes subjected to emotional and physical abuses even by members of their immediate families or caregivers. Arquiza, who also authored the bill granting additional privileges for the elderly, said it is the duty of the state to enact measures that would “promote human dignity and safeguard the rights of senior citizens.”

Taiwan: Index of Aging Breaks Record (January 23, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
According to a recent study, the population of people over age 65 reached 2,457,468 last year in Taiwan, which accounts for up to 10.63 percent of its total population. Its index of aging has been increasing, showing that Taiwan is aging at a relatively fast pace.

Taiwan: Index of Aging Breaks Record (January 23, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
According to a recent study, the population of people over age 65 reached 2,457,468 last year in Taiwan, which accounts for up to 10.63 percent of its total population. Its index of aging has been increasing, showing that Taiwan is aging at a relatively fast pace. 

China: A New Era for Elderly Welfare (January 21, 2010) 
(Article in Chinese) 
Looking back at the last decade, Chinese society has taken many initiatives to cope with the increasing older population in China. The government has pushed a number of reforms to support its aging society. While the government has done most of the work regarding older persons, the private sector has to promote a more elder friendly society.

China: Gansu Province to Raise the Stipend for Every Senior Citizen (January 21, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
People over age 100 will receive a stipend of 1,200 RMB per year, people of ages 95 to 99 will get no less than 700 RMB per year and people age from 90 to 95 will get no less 500 RMB per year. At the same time, the government will reduce the health care burden for seniors and provide basic living expenses for all senior people who meet set conditions.

China: Too Old To Challenge the US (January 19, 2010) 
(Article in Chinese)
While some people in the US fear that China will take over the US role of leadership in the world, an article from the New York Times claims that China will soon lose its momentum. China is still a very poor country in many aspects compared to the US. What's more, China's aging population and lack of workforce due to the one-child policy may become an obstacle for its economic growth.

China: Xunyang Gouyuan Xiang, Shanxi Province: New Life in the Remote Mountain Areas (January 19, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Xuanyang Xiang has 12,315 people scattered among the mountains. To meet the needs of seniors, a home was established and 80% of the seniors moved in. For those that don't want to leave their homes, their neighbors assumed responsibility to care for them; 74,000 RMB per year is distributed to those that help seniors in the neighborhood.

China: Promote New Pension for Senior People in Rural Areas (January 17, 2010)
(Article in Chinese) 
A new rural pension plan involves a pilot project covering 10% of the counties. By 2020, the new plan will cover most senior people living in rural areas. According to the plan, the central treasury will provide 55 yuan per person per month as the basic pension while the local treasury should provide at least 30 yuan per person per year. 

Australia: Pensions Cut for Elderly Fijians Who Criticize Regime (January 15, 2010)
Older Fijians who speak ill of the country's military regime will have their pensions cut in the latest move to silence the population. Self-appointed Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, in power since a December 2006 coup, says the new decree effective this week is designed to stop the spread of dissent and "promote stability." Pro-democracy supporters are outraged at the action, saying cutting off pensioners' lifelines is a serious breach of human rights.

China: Senior was Saved Because of a Bottle of Milk (January 14, 2010)
(Article in Chinese) 
Shanghai's new Jiangwan community provides one bottle of milk per day for the single senior people living in the community. The staff of this community checks everyone's milk receptacle every noon. If someone has not picked up the milk, staff will visit that senior's apartment to check if they feel well and if they need help. The new Jjiangwan community pays for all the milk.

India: A Mixed Feeling about India's Population (January 13, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
The United States Bureau of Census recently announced that India is going to overtake China to become the country with most population in the world by 2025. China is facing severe social problems coping with its aging population. While some people welcome the fact about India's population increase, it imposes a question of what kind of impact it may bring to the country. 

India: A Mixed Feeling about India's Population (January 13, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
The United States Bureau of Census recently announced that India is going to overtake China to become the country with most population in the world by 2025. China is facing severe social problems coping with its aging population. While some people welcome the fact about India's population increase, it imposes a question of what kind of impact it may bring to the country. 

Myanmar: The Kindest Cut (January 7, 2010)
(Article also available in Arabic)
Long hair is highly valued in Burmese society, celebrated in literature and songs. But now women are being forced to part with it as a last resort. In Myanmar, where one-third of the population of 57.6 million live below the poverty line, hair traders say selling hair has become a way of making ends meet. Many poor old women have to sell their damaged, excess hair for a small amount of money. 

China: Beijing's First Coupons for Senior and Disabled People Distributed on the First of Every Month, Valid for One Month (January 2, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
The Beijing government is distributing coupons each month that can used by senior and disabled people to purchase services, home supplies and meals in restaurants. All services and merchandise are provided at favorable prices.

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Europe and Central Asia

Background Documents

Serbia: National Strategy on Ageing (2006-2015)
Serbia has adopted a strategy on aging for the period up to 2015. The strategy encourages the development of a society for all ages where stakeholders as well as the citizenry give attention to the needs and contributions of older persons. The Serbian population is one of the oldest populations in the world, numbering 1.2 million individuals, a sixth of the population.
 

Reports | Articles

Reports

France: Live Together Longer (June 2010)
(Report in French)
The French “commissariat au plan” puts forward a number of ideas about how the public should respond to the aging of the French population. The nation’s ageing process will speed up by 2035. While one person out of five was 60 years old or more in 2005, there will be one older person for every three persons in 2050, according to INSEE. This ageing process will deeply transform French society. Interestingly, one suggestion has been to make aging get older: One university suggests that people will have to be 75 years old before being considered truly “old.” The writers want to open professional training and employment to all persons as well as help firms better understand their older workers’ challenges, both at work and at home. 

Europe: Elder Abuse in Europe: Background and Position Paper (June 1, 2010)
The European Commission and the National Center for the Protection of Older People (NCPOP), an Aging Studies institution based in Ireland, collaborated to produce this report. It looks at the phenomenon of elder abuse in Europe after 1975. 

EU: Intergenerational Solidarity: Policy Challenges and Societal Responses (June 2010)
This report that Asghar Zaidi, Katrin Gasior and Alexandre Sidorenko prepared, is based on the “Conference on Active and Healthy Ageing” presentation made during the Spanish EU Presidency event on 29-30 April 2010. The report explores earlier plenary sessions which had addressed policy practices at local, national and European levels focused on encouraging solidarity among generations.

Russia-Finland: When Borders Separate People (June 3, 2010)
(Report in Russian)
The Finnish Immigration Service decided to deport 82-year old Russian citizen, Irina Antonova. The woman entered the county with tourist visa in February 2008. At present her visa has expired and Finland immigration authorities now require her to leave the country. However, her health condition raises difficulties for her transportation. Now the situation has become more difficult and political with little compromise from either the Finnish president Tarja Halonen or Russian Prime Minister Putin. Yet, the Finnish immigration services remain stern in following the Law. Who is responsible for Antonova's health care: the family of her daughter in Finland? Or, the Finnish authorities? Or the Russian authorities? 

European Union: European Charter of the Rights and Responsibilities of Older People in Need of Long-term Care and Assistance (May 2010)
Various partners from ten different countries launched a discussion on how best to recognize and affirm the rights of the most vulnerable older people, especially the increasing number who receive long-term care. Advancing age does not affect a person's rights, duties and responsibilities. The charter focuses especially on the right to dignity, self determination, health care and freedom of expression. These rights are not fully respected today. The authors want the charter enforced so that older people can enjoy their rights. 

Europe: Informal Carers: Who Takes Care of Them? (April 2010)
In the past, informal and unpaid carers of the elderly have not been counted due to a lack of methodological data. This is slowly changing due to a question of fiscal sustainability concerning long-term care services and an increase in movements by informal carers. In its policy brief, The European Centre attempts to increase knowledge about informal carers and the challenges they face. 

Europe: Mainstreaming Aging (Spring 2010)
Take time to check out this newsletter! The Spring 2010 issue of Mainstreaming Aging features articles on Women’s Work and Pensions, The European Institute of Gender Equality, Gender Pay Gaps in EU States, Poverty Risks for Older Women in EU Countries, and the Gender Dimension of Retirement. Take advantage of all the great information provided here and share it with others!

United Kingdom: Fear of Dying in an Ethnically Diverse Society: Cross-Sectional Studies of People Aged 65+ in Britain (March 30, 2010)
This researcher aims to examine fears about dying in an ethnically diverse population sample, and in a more homogeneous population sample, aged 65 and over. Results concluded that ethnically diverse respondents were more likely than the British population respondents to express fears about dying on all measures used. Helping older people to express fears about dying is important when planning supportive end-of-life care. Practitioners should not assume that fears about dying are the same in different social groups, or that extensive family support protects one against such anxiety. Older ethnic minorities had more anxieties about dying than others. Those with the most family support were also likely to express fears. These findings have serious implications for commissioners and practitioners of primary and secondary care. 

Romania: Recognition of Elder Abuse by Home Care Workers and Older People in Romania (January 2010)
Do home care workers and older persons themselves recognize elder abuse in Romania? Apparently no previous studies looked at such abuse in Eastern Europe. The researcher tried to determine the proportion of home care workers and older people receiving care from a Romanian home care service who correctly identified elder abuse in a vignette, and who detected elder abuse at work.

United Kingdom: The Potential of ICT in Supporting Domiciliary Care in England (January 2010)
Beginning with a brief overview of the social care system in England, the author looks at unpaid carers (mostly family members, but sometimes friends or neighbors) and paid home care workers, who support older, sick or disabled people of all ages in their own homes. He also shows how ICT (including telecare) supports care providers, highlighting both major public-funded initiatives and investments, and other approaches embraced by voluntary and private sector organizations. 

Europe: Poverty Risks for Older People in EU Countries – An Update (January 2010)
Authors of this Policy Brief provide the latest evidence on how EU countries differ in terms of poverty risks for older people (aged 65 years and over). EU-SILC data for 2008 show that, on average, older people face a higher poverty risk rate than the total population: the rate for older people was 19% as opposed to rate for the total population of 17%. In general, countries with low poverty risk rates for older people have a good social safety net, usually a basic pension (e.g. the Netherlands) and/or they offer strong redistribution of earnings-related contributory pension schemes in the form of minimum guaranteed pensions (e.g. Austria).

Europe - Germany: Report: Multigenerational House Nürnberg (2007)
The German Government underwrites Multigenerational Houses (Mehrgenarationenhäuser). The project aims to increase interaction between the younger generations and the older generations at the community level. They had established more than 200 houses by 2007, and 450 houses will be active in 2012. These houses opened community drop-in centers, providing a variety of services to all generations at a low budget, and encouraging honorary and voluntary participation, using the expertise and potentials of all generations.


                                             Articles

United Kingdom: Son Guilty of Killing 100-Year-Old Mother (August 23, 2010)
A son stabbed his mother in the neck, resulting in her death. After killing his mother, Michael Fitzgibbon, 62, confessed to manslaughter. Psychiatrists agree he was suffering depression of “moderate severity.” Also his family had not noticed that he suffered the early stages of Parkinson's disease. GAA and many other aging organizations demand that the caregivers of older persons have the physical resources and financial support they need to manage their caregiving responsibilities.

Germany: Retirees Prefer Jaguar (August 16, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
Older Germans are big fans of expensive car brands, mainly Jaguar and Mercedes. According to statistics, the average buyers of new Jaguars are getting older every year, reflecting the aging German population. European car makers are more likely to follow the preferences of their older clients by focusing on safety, gas mileage and environmental friendliness. 

Russia: Elder Professors Face Employment Problems (August 14, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
If not addressed in a timely way, the approaching demographic changes could cost university professors their employment. Experts expect decreasing numbers of students, brought on by lower birth rates, to enter Russian universities in coming years, eliminating thousands of teaching positions. Older educators are particularly vulnerable to lay-offs.

Russia: Aid for Victims of Fires (August 13, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
While the destructive fires of recent weeks have apparently receded, the departments of the Pension Fund of Russia continue to work in emergency mode. Many old people lost their property, including identification papers for their pensions, complicating the process of payments. Authorities are working to issue duplicates of the documents necessary to obtain allowances and state compensatory payments.

Germany: Elderly Make up Most of Car Accident Victims (August 8, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
It is well known that older Germans are cautious drivers; however, those who are pedestrians or ride a bicycle often fall victim to slipping under the wheels of cars. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, children and old people comprise the largest percentage of victims in road accidents.

Russia: Dead End for Economists (August 5, 2010) 
(Article in Russian)
Last year, social allowances and payments were adjusted by 13 percent. Nevertheless, the income of pensioners, World War II veterans, and disabled elders barely reached the minimum wage level. The need for social allowances as well as their potential consequences are discussed in this article.

World: Senior Delinquency to Increase (August 3, 2010)
(Article in French)
As humans tend to live longer and in better physical health, seniors who had criminal records at a younger age could pursue this kind of activity even longer. In Japan, around 55,000 Japanese seniors beyond the age of 65 are arrested each year and jails must be adapted to seniors’ needs. In France, the center of strategic analysis points out that seniors seem to be less threatened than the rest of the population even if they are first targeted for some offenses.

Elderly Across Europe Live in Extreme Hardship & Poverty - Women (August 5, 2010)
Older persons are amongst the most vulnerable groups that have been deeply affected by the economic crisis. Hundreds of thousands of older persons across Europe, struggling for their everyday survival. Many suffer a shocking level of poverty. The number of older persons begging in the streets goes to prove that their human right to an adequate standard of living is not respected. Politicians ignore the aged, seeing them as non-productive and worthless in modern society. The human rights of the older generation must not be further undermined as governments introduce their austerity programs.

Holland: A Retiree from Holland Gave Himself a New Car as a 100th Birthday Gift (August 3, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
What gift would someone like to receive for his or her 100th birthday? A retiree from Holland gave himself a brand new car. The birthday person explains that he continues safe driving habits and stays calm in all situations. His doctor recently confirmed that his state of health indicates he can still drive safely.

United Kingdom: Old Man Beaten to Death in Front of London Mosque (July 27, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
A gang of schoolboys brutally attacked a Muslim old man leaving a mosque with his granddaughter. Police link the assault on the retired care worker to a series of other attacks on older Asian people near the mosque. Police are treating these attacks as racially motivated.

Russia: Two Retirees Escape from Moscow to the Island of Freedom (July 27, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
Two retired brothers from Moscow, Boris and Anatoly, found a way to escape the heat and city noise by going to an island in the middle of a pond northeast of Moscow. They enjoy island life every year from April to October and claim such visits fulfill their long-time childhood dream.

Poland: Two Men Sentenced for Robbing Elder Woman (July 24, 2010)
In Youngstown, Poland, two 21-year-old men were sentenced to more than 10 years in prison after robbing an 83-year-old lady with a gun. According to the victim, one man put a handgun to her face during the robbery. Since the attack, the victim said she has suffered “nightmares, sleeplessness, anxiety, chest pains and panic attacks, for which I’ve been in and out of the hospital.”

United Kingdom: BBC to be Accused of Sexism and Ageism (July 20, 2010)
(Article in French)
Selina Scott, a former anchorwoman at BBC, has compiled a dossier looking into the sexism and ageism against women at the BBC. According to her, the obsession with youth and rejection of older women in television has increased. The 59-year-old woman also describes how women are pushed aside. She hopes her report will “trigger nothing short of a ‘revolution’ within the Television Center.” 

Sweden: Swedish Family Lived with 191 Cats (July 20, 2010)
An old Swedish woman lived in Stockholm with 191 cats. Many of these cats were sick or injured and 173 were put down at the house. The remaining 18 cats were sent to animal shelters. According to Swedish law, a family can have a maximum of nine cats. A social services coordinator suggested that animal lovers contact local shelters to deal with stray pets and injured animals instead of simply taking them into their homes.

UK: Oldest Briton, Born when Victoria was on the Throne, Dies at age 111 (July 20, 2010)
Eunice Bowman, Britain’s oldest person at age 111, passed away early this month. She was born when Queen Victoria was still on the throne, and had lived independently until two years ago. When asked about the secrets to her longevity, she said "I have never drank alcohol or smoked. I have had a happy life." She also said a "tipple of honey" had
helped: "The tipple of honey is what keeps me going, really. I've had a simple life, but I've had some great memories along the way."

UK: Conservatives Accused of U-Turn on 'Death tax' to Care for Elderly (20 July, 2010) The government has been accused of making a U-turn on the death tax policy that funds long-term care for older persons. It was one of the most explosive issues of the general election. Andrew Lansley, the health minister, announced that a commission on the funding of care and support will report within a year, after examining a variety of funding options. They need to consider these options considering that the UK is expecting 1.7 million more persons needing care over the next 20 years. 

UK: Many Elderly Britons 'Lack Medical Cover Abroad' (July 16, 2010)
According to recent reports, the number of traveling Britons requiring consular assistance is very high. Why? The older tourists experienced include failed insurance policies due to unreported health conditions, lost or stolen passports and arrests. The authors suggest travelers be more accurate and precise when preparing for a trip: choose an insurance policy and check the Internet for additional information about travel to the country of interest. 

France: Aging Gracefully, the French Way (July 14, 2010)
Do French women know secrets that allow them to age gracefully? If yes, what are those secrets? Is aging a matter of make-up or mind, practical strategy or life habits? The ways women on both sides of the Atlantic approach aging are discussed in this article.

Russia: Nearly 12,000 Unemployed Retirees in Moscow Region to Receive Reimbursements (July 13, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
To improve social and living conditions of unemployed retirees, the Pension Fund of Russia plans to distribute about 9.7 million rubles as one-time payments. The measure will cover near 12,000 people.

France: Aging Might Be an Opportunity (July 6, 2010)
(Article in French)
A July 5th survey shows strong support for the aging population. The results advocates indicate that aging necessitates living in good mental and physical health. Rather than years lived, health is the true sign of aging. The survey recommends maintaining the senior employment rate along with equal access to continuing education. 

Seventy-seven-year-old English Woman Achieves 7th Dan Black Belt in Spirit Combat International Jiu-jitsu (July 6, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
When is it too late for an outstanding achievement? Seventy-seven-year-old Ena Mallett from England proved it was not too late to become the first woman to receive her seventh black belt in Spirit Combat International Jiu-jitsu. Working as a crossing guard at school, she also teaches martial arts. No doubt she can stand up for herself. 

France: Patrols to Protect Elderly (July 4, 2010)
(Article in French)
The French government has unveiled its `tranquillité seniors` (senior tranquility) plan aiming to protect seniors against burglaries. The government plan modeled this program on the `tranquillité vacances` (holiday tranquility) plan. Aggression and burglaries against the elderly have increased over the past few years because older people often make an easy target for robbers. The government will hand out 1.5 million flyers to warn older people about the dangerous areas and situations and to remind them how to react in such a situations.

France: A Cry of Alarm from the Oldest Woman on the Internet (July 4, 2010)
(Article in French)
A 98-year-old woman, wrote this account highlighting the bad conditions of nursing homes in France. According to her, some thirty persons share a single fan. Only one room enjoys air conditioning to serve more some 65 nursing home residents. She describes her difficulties in getting a doctor’s appointment. Alas, she is describing the most modern nursing home in Isere that opened its doors in 2009. 

United Kingdom: Elderly Motorists Need More Support (July 4, 2010)
In the United Kingdom, 86% of older motorists (70-year-olds) have had no additional driver’s training since obtaining a license 30 years ago. Older motorists are more likely to cause an accident and are more affected by road conditions. The UK government has launched a project to encourage driving safety for older drivers. Medical checks, driving evaluations and better public transport could all help older drivers stay safe on the roads.

UK: Time for Britain to Give Workplace Ageism the Sack (July 2, 2010)
Fabio Capello, England’s soccer coach during this summer’s World Cup, is in his sixties, as are a number of Britain’s best soccer coaches who are also in the height of their careers. According to the author of this article, the practice of ageism in the workplace is on its way out. He predicts that older people will stay on in top roles, a practice that will almost certainly become the norm soon, as long as Britain foregoes ageism towards older workers

France: Only 18% Still Working at Age 62 (June 29, 2010)
(Article in French)
According to Ministry of Employment statistics, less than two seniors out of ten (18%) are still in the labor market at age 62. The survey indicates that seniors’ participation in the labor force activity quickly decreases after age 54. Seniors who prolong their paid work are mostly executives and those employed in intellectual professions while manual and low-skilled workers leave the labor market much earlier. The survey notes that the senior unemployment rate has increased above that of the last economic crisis.

United Kingdom: Older People May Prefer Flats to Rent in London (June 29, 2010)
In London, England, older citizens usually live in big houses while many working families are squashed into overcrowded homes. The London government is encouraging older people--especially those who can barely afford their houses--to rent out empty rooms or move into smaller flats.

France: Retirees may Participate in Financing Dependents (June 23, 2010)
(Article in French)
France is facing difficulties in financing services and accommodations for frail seniors. To solve the problem, the French parliament plans to require retired people to subscribe to private insurance should they experience a loss of autonomy. The proposal will also raise the rate of the general social contribution. This system would gradually replace the current personal autonomy allowance which is insufficient, according to the government.

United Kingdom: Woman Who Had Sex Change Wins Legal Right to Pension at 60 (June 22, 2010)
In England, male workers are entitled to state pensions at 65 years, and female workers at 60 years. Christine Timbrell, a woman who had a sex-change operation 10 years ago, won her court case to receive a pension from the age of 60. 

France: “Live at home”: autonomy, inclusion and life plan (June 18, 2010)
(Article in French)
The French government has launched a project called Living at Home to allow seniors to continue living in their residence as long as possible. Nora Berra, the French Minister for aging, has pointed out that as life expectancy increases, ageing is no longer synonymous with disease and poverty. This project aims to enhance the quality of home life and the autonomy of old people by providing them with new technologies and services. Older persons can continue to live at home, supported by their close relatives and neighborhoods.

France: They Complete their Pension by Knitting (June 18, 2010) 
(Article in French)
Jeremy Ernsellem is a 24-year-old man who created the website Golden Hooks that provides a network to grandmothers who want to knit from home to complete their pension or because they feel bored. The grandmothers are compensated for each hat or scarf they create. They earn an average of 400 euros per month. This operation is a great success in France and more old women are joining the group. 

France: Ageing Sectors (June 15, 2010)
In sectors like agriculture, energy or health, seniors make up 30% of the employees. Therefore, these business sectors must address the issue of population aging as soon as possible. It is essential both because of the population change and because it demonstrates a willingness of the French government for seniors to work longer.

Russia: Head of International Committee of the Council of Federations, Mikhail Margelov, Asks European Ombudsman to Defend Russian Citizens (June 15, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
The Head of the International Committee of the Council of Federations, Mikhail Markelov, addressed a letter to the Ombudsman of the European Council asking the official to defend the rights of an 82-year-old Russian citizen. The older woman spent the last two years in Finland with her daughter's family on an expired tourist visa. While the Finnish immigration service requires Russian citizens to leave the country, the woman's health condition raised difficulties for her transportation. Sadly, she does not have a place to live or relatives to care for her in her hometown. 

United Kingdom: Older People Mentor Troubled Teens in 'Granny Knows Best' Project (June 14, 2010)
In London, more than 50 older people are becoming mentors to troubled teenagers in a Government-backed project that hopes to prove that “Granny knows best.” If the project is successful, it may expand nationwide.

Moldova: Alliance “for European Integration” Refuses to Help Pensioners and Disabled People (June 11, 2010) 
(Article in Russian)
Oksana Domenti, a Communist Party deputy, has accused the administration of ignoring legislation regarding vulnerable groups in the population. The previous administration adopted the New Strategy for Social Development which included pension reform. However, the current administration has done nothing to implement the strategy. 

United Kingdom: Phones with a Loud Ringtone Popular among Older Persons (June 8, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
A British company produced a new line of cell phones that emit a ring tone that sounds similar to an electric drill. Older customers responded very positively. The phone also featured large font sizes that made it easier for older people to read letters and numbers.

Russia: The first Olympic Competition in Computer Science Involved Pensioners in Chuvashia, Russian Federation (June 8, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
Older persons in Chuvashia spend less time sitting on a bench as the popularity of computer clubs grows among the retirees who can now enjoy them free-of-charge. In the past six months, six computer clubs have opened their doors, with a recent Olympiad testing computer skills among the older population.

Germany: Germany’s Responses Towards An Aging Population (June 7, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Since the year 2000, the German government has launched multiple projects to approach the aging of its population. These projects regard older persons as a valuable resource in society. They encourage senior citizens to participate in community service with young people, provide mentoring to high school students and live in multigenerational houses.

United Kingdom: £20m Lottery Fund to Tackle 'Lonely' Elderly in Wales (June 7, 2010)
The Big Lottery Fund in Wales will sponsor a voluntary project for the next three to five years with grants of between £200,000 and £1m. The Fund’s directors want to encourage befriending and social interaction among old people.

Finland: Finland Makes Its Seniors Want to Work (June 6, 2010)
(Article in French)
The employment rate for seniors has strongly increased in Finland in the past 10 years. According to most commentators, firms now encourage seniors to work by taking care of them and improving the quality of work life. They implemented programs to provide workers with better working conditions, thanks to dialogue and follow-through between older workers and their bosses. However, even in Finland, seniors are often the first to be dismissed in times of company crisis. The article also highlights the issue of retirement financing; the effective retirement age is 59.8 years. 

European Union: Putting Young and Old to Work (June 6, 2010)
In European Union countries, people aged 15-24 and 55-64 have the highest unemployment rates. In this article, Thomas Mann, centre right German member of the European Parliament, talks about his report that would tackle unemployment among both young people and those who are older.

Russia: School for the Arts for Elderly People (June 2, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
The School for the Arts for older people is opening in Novocherkassk. The project, “Golden Age--a time to live creatively,” aims to improve the quality of life for the older population by increasing the range of opportunities to realize their creativity and develop their skills.

Russia: What a Victorious Generation Should Expect (June 2, 2010)
(Article in Russian) 
A veteran of WWII who reads the Russian newspaper Argumenty i Facty asks a question on state provision of housing for veterans. The Prime Minister of Russia, V.V. Putin, answers the question. 

France: New Measures Favor Employment of Seniors (June 1, 2010)
(Article in French)
Laurent Wauquiez, French Secretary of State for Employment, discusses the issue of employment of seniors in an interview by Le Parisien, a French newspaper. In France, the senior sector's employment rate is only 17%. Wauquiez revealed that the government is currently planning to exempt firms that hire seniors from charges.

France: Women's Pensions: Let's Correct All Disparities (June 1, 2010)
(Article in French)
The debate over pension reform in France seldom includes the issue of pension disparities between men and women. According to the Laboratory on Equality--which gathers associations, trade unions, business leaders and members of the media to promote gender equality--the French government should take into account inequalities from which women are suffering in the workplace in terms of wages, employment rates and imposed part-time work. According to the organization, the government should begin implementing existing laws concerning wage equality between men and women.

France: Fillon Announces Reform of Dependency ''By the End of 2010'' to Take Effect in 2011 (June 1, 2010)
(Article in French)
The French Prime Minister Francois Fillon announced on June 1 that dependency reform for older people and people with disabilities would be determined by the end of 2010 in order to take effect before 2011. Some departments want to reconsider how to finance the reforms because they are in a difficult financial situation due to the current economic crisis.

Russia: A Mass Murderer of Pensioners Released Once Again (May 28, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
"I do not know how to express to our older citizens, all the dangers that surround them,” stated the chief of criminal police, Andrei Konovalov. One such danger includes killings of female pensioners in Krasnoufimsk, most of which occurred within the same area, according to the local media. This is a security concern because older women are prone to giving strangers access to their homes 

United Kingdom: Dunkirk Veterans Revisit the Scene of Their Salvation 70 Years On (May 27, 2010)
In France’s port city of Dunkirk, World War II Veterans gathered to remember almost a quarter of a million Allied troops who had retreated from Hitler's forces at the end of May 1940. During the battle of Dunkirk, thousands of boats set sail to rescue the Allied troops at the government's request. It was part of Churchill's "miracle of deliverance" that the flotilla of little ships plucked more than 300,000 servicemen, who are now very old persons, from the Nazi soldiers. 

France: Poor Management of Billions of Euros on Pentecost Monday (May 24, 2010)
(Article in French)
In 2003, the French Government used Pentecost Monday to create a Solidarity Day in hopes of raising extra money to support older people. The Government raised 2.21 billion Euros in 2009. Yet, many associations and commentators believe this money has been poorly managed and that it has not been used to improve the lives of older people. 

United Kingdom: Hanging Out With My 'Grannies' (May 22, 2010)
Stephanie Theobald teaches creative writing at a nursing home to rekindle her relationships with old people after the death of her own grandmother when she was very young. Through Isolated Elders, an organization based in London, Theobald has experienced fruitful relationships and gained life lessons such as the importance of intergenerational interactions in “a country that doesn't seem to like old people much.” Global Action on Aging recommends the positive benefits of volunteering at nursing homes. 

Russia: Moscow Expecting an Increase in its Population of Older Persons and Immigrants (May 21, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
A decline in fertility rates in Moscow has caused a decline in the working population.However, the percentage of retirees is on the rise, noted the popular Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda. Moscow's population continues to grow due to newcomers immigrating to the city from other countries. 

France: Let's Develop Art of “Aging Well” (May 18, 2010)
(Article in French)
In an editorial published in Le Monde, the French writer Marie de Hennezel, introduces the reader to a new way to view ageing. Growing older is usually seen as a decline in health and productivity even though it is accompanied by increased wisdom and a host of valuable experience to contribute to society. It is real 'work' to age well because while it assumes loss of certain abilities, it also opens older persons to new perspectives. Hennezel wants people to discover the 'other face of aging' and the wealth linked to it.  

France: More and More Old People Victims of Crimes (May 17, 2010)
(Article in French)
French deputy Edouard Courtialreported on security for older persons to the French Minister of Interior, Brice Hortefeux, on May 16, 2010. He noted that robbers and swindlers often target older people. Such thieves , falsely represent themselves as electrical company agents or chimney sweepers. On this basis, Brice Hortefeux outlined measures to get better security for older persons. 

Russia: Can a Pensioner Survive Without a Computer? (May 15, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
Imagine for a moment a new social network on the Internet whose membership consists solely of older persons. It is a network set up for pensioners and retirees to communicate, reminisce, and even reunite after years of separation. Luckily, this network exists, and is shared by people who have something to share with each other and the world. 

France: Meals Delivered to Homes Serve Social Purpose (May 14, 2010)
(Article in French)
Older people are sometimes lonely. When they request meals to be brought to their homes, mainly for health reasons, it is also an opportunity for them to talk to someone. At times, the person who brings meals is also a confidant. In the city of Saint Etienne in France, this service has improved over recent years. The price of the meal has gone down and municipal officers are staying with older persons for eight minutes, instead of only two minutes, as they did in previous years. 

United Kingdom: Britain Looks Ahead for Its Elderly (May 14, 2010)
Among the social issues affected by the growing aging population in the United Kingdom, housing has become the central focus. According to this article, in Britain the number of people older than 60 - estimated at 10.8 million in the 2001 census - is predicted to increase to 17.8 million over the next 25 years. There is simply not enough housing for all older persons, promptingdevelopers to come up with a plan of action to accommodate the growing population. 

Bulgaria: Russian Pensioners are Buying Property in Bulgaria (May 14, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
Former Soviet Union citizens are buying apartments in Bulgaria in great numbers. What seems particularly surprising is the fact that a large percentage of them are former Soviet citizens--Russian pensioners to be exact. An average apartment in Bulgaria can cost up to 10 thousand euros but that does not stop the Soviet pensioners from shopping. Even if a price for an apartment seems high, they get monetary as well as emotional support from their children. 

Russia: Elderly of Khabarovsk to Learn Computing (May 14, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
The main idea is to create conditions for mastering a government program called the "Electronic Government." As intended by the program's creators, “Electronic Government” allows people to contact the leaders of the country and region directly as well as to receive timely information about any changes in legislation and responsibilities of the bureaucratic apparatus. 

Spain: Older Persons Begin their Emancipation (May 13, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
In Spain theeconomic and social transformation has ended the taboo on older persons’ homes. Older personsprefer autonomy above all; however, when they cannot live alone, they increasingly opt for professional help because they do not want to burden their children. Many families are asking for the financial benefits granted by the Dependency Law to pay caregivers, most of whom are immigrants. 

France: Still Forgotten by the Republic (May 12, 2010)
(Article in French)
French veterans from former colonial possessions such as Morocco or Senegal do not receive the same amount of pension as veterans from metropolitan France if they do not live in Europe. The authors ask the French government to take responsibility: it is impossible to aspire to integrate the grandchildren of those veterans in France if they are not treated as former soldiers who fought for the nation. Many veterans from former colonies are still alive; there is still time for action.

Romania: Romanian Pensioners Revolt Against the Austerity of Government (May 12, 2010)
(Article also available in Russian)
Pensioners in Romania decided to protest against the austere measures of their government. “This rebellious demonstration was attended by thousands of retirees,” claims the Russian press. Eventually the police broke up the protest. 

Switzerland: Aging: A Gift Rather than a Burden (May 11, 2010)
(Article in French)
The Curaviva Association recently elaborated on a “Charter of civil society for dignified relations with the elderly.” They call for citizens to take on responsibilities in regards to the aging of the Swiss population. They contend that older people are not a burden: they pay taxes and their experiences constitute a gift to society. The association fights against the rejection of older people from other members of the community.

Lithuania: Lithuania to Celebrate 65th Anniversary of Great Victory (May 8, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
Due to the fear that the "Peace March" in honor of the Second World War will attract a large number of people with different nationalities and religions, the Lithuanian government is trying to diminish the importance of the march which has the potential to create a nationwide reaction.

France: The Oldest Person in the World is French (May, 4, 2010)
(Article in French)
The world's oldest woman has died. A Japanese woman, Kama Chinen, passed away Sunday at her care home on the island of Okinawa at age 114. The title of the world's oldest person has now gone to a 114-year-old Frenchwoman, Eugenie Blanchard. She lives on a Caribbean island and still enjoys a glass of champagne every now and then, especially on her birthday.

Russia: Pensioners Living in South-West Moscow Will Be Protected by Local Police (May 3, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
Police officers in the South-West district of Moscow are under orders to monitor all pensioners’ apartments carefully, particularly those who live on their own. The police issued these new orders due to many grisly murders of pensioners. Why? Thieves wanted their property, mostly their apartments. 

France: For Seniors, Employers Have no Heart (April 27, 2010)
(Article in French)
France has one of the lowest senior employment rates in Europe due to older persons leaving the labor market at about age 58. This article gathers stories about people rejected by their employers due to their age. For instance, Daniel G., a 56-year-old marketing director who was fired two years ago without any valid reason, sent 300 resumes to firms without receiving a single positive response. Martine G., 55 years old, was fired after being diagnosed with cancer. Many employers don't take into account the valuable experience older people bring to a job. 

France: Age Revolution? Let's Talk About It! (April 23, 2010)
(Article in French)
Extension of life expectancy during the last 40 years is recognized as social progress in France and throughout the world. Consequently, the French minister for older people, Nora Berra, is trying to create awareness about the social role of older people in French society: people over 60 represent 22.6% of the global population. In this editorial, she reaffirms that the French government is not giving up on the elderly. Moreover, she states that a plan to combat Alzheimer's disease is a political and financial priority for President Sarkozy.

France: Cities to Adapt to Seniors (April 22, 2010)
(Article in French) 
Over the last decade in the French city of Lille, the population of residents aged 75 and over has increased in high proportions. Consequently, the city--as well as most other French metropolitan areas--must adapt its installations to the seniors. In the past, decisions were taken without consulting older people, whereas now they demand to be heard about their needs and insist on being involved in decision making. One of their main concerns is for the provision of nursing homes located in downtown areas.

Russia: In Russia, Pensioners Are Not Left in Poverty (April 20, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
There are no more pensioners living below the official poverty line in Russia. That was stated by the Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on the 20th of April at the State Duma. He also talked about the work of the government over the past year. Putin's speech in parliament was broadcasted on a television channel “Vesti 24”.

France: Firms are Reluctant to Hire Seniors and to Keep Them (April 16, 2010)
(Article in French)
The employment rate of the 55-64 years old in France is 7 points under the European average (38,9% against 46%). To solve this problem, a senior plan, registered in the financing law of the Social Security for 2009 has been set up. Firms with at least 50 employees had until January 31st to reach a three year settlement with their employees. If such a settlement could not be found, companies will have to pay 1% of their wage bill as a fine. Nevertheless, the real utility of this plan still has to be proved. First, the firms' goals remain modest. For instance, Microsoft aims to keep 1% of the 55 years old and more as employees in its firm. But above all, companies neglect to recruit persons in this senior age bracket. Several specialists point out the fact that it will be difficult to resolve this issue if firms have no recruitment goals to meet. 

France: Poor Retired People: Associations Sound the Alarm (April 15, 2010) 
(Article in French)
A gathering of 37 French associations battling against poverty and social exclusion ask the government not to forget older people. They want to raise public awareness about the poverty touching older persons as more and more live below the poverty level. The economic crisis has made the seniors' situation worse. They are asking the government to increase the amount of the retirement allocation. 

Netherlands: Dutch Older Woman Imprisons Electrical Company Employee Cutting Off Electricity for Unpaid Bill (April 13, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
A 65-year-old Dutch woman locked up an electrical company employee who came to her house for the purpose of cutting off her electricity due to the non-payment of a 42.000.00 Euro ($57.000.00) bill. The employee called the police, who released the employee and the woman was taken to the police center for questioning. 

United Kingdom: Mother and Daughter Try to Smuggle Corpse on Plane (April 7, 2010)
(Article also available in Arabic) 
Tucked up in his wheelchair and wearing a large pair of sunglasses, the older traveler might have looked like he was simply catching a nap as he waited for his flight. But something didn't seem quite right. As his family tried to check in, airport staff became suspicious. To their horror they discovered that the 91-year-old was dead.

France: Seniors and Cash (April 7, 2010)
(Article in French) 
According to a recent survey, people over 65 years tend to retain more cash than young people. They generally carry around 59 euros (around 80 dollars) in cash, whereas people under 30 usually have less than 20 euros (about 26 dollars). Moreover, more than half of people over 65 keep cash at home and generally don't hide it. They withdraw money several times a month and try to find a secure place for safekeeping. However, they put it inside an office area that offers minimal security.

Russia: Director of Retirement Home in Yakutsk Cruelly Mistreated Elderly Residents (April 6, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
The director of a retirement home in Yakutsk will have to appear in court. Apparently he behaved outrageously toward older residents in the home. He was accused of unlawfully depriving the freedom of older and disabled residents. 

United Kingdom: Couple Who Sent Suicide Letter to BBC Killed Themselves (March 31, 2010)
An older couple that sent a letter to BBC criticizing UK laws on assisted suicide was found dead in their home in November. The couple had spent a long time planning their suicides and had actively advocated changing the law to give people the right to choose how and when to end their lives.

France: Ideas to Help Older Persons to Get Out Of Their Houses (March 30, 2010)
(Article in French) 
The example of Colette Saraille, an 85-year-old French woman, shows how hard it can be for older people to get out of their homes. Public transportation is not always adapted to their use; Nursing homes are sometimes too far from shops and commercial centers.

United Kingdom: Labor Offers Elderly a Care Deal from 2014 (March 30, 2010)
The government pledged on Tuesday to cap the cost of residential care for older persons as welfare for the aged emerged as a political dividing line ahead of the general election. It said citizens would only have to pay for the first two years of stay in a care home from 2014--at an initial cost to the state of 800 million pounds--and held out the promise of a free national care service for all after 2015. "This is an issue about the future of Britain and the future of our society from which we must not hide," said Prime Minister Gordon Brown. "These are tough decisions to take in times of economic restraint. But with a rapidly ageing society, the costs of inaction are far greater than the costs of reform."

Europe: How Old Is Elderly? (March 29, 2010)
(Article in French)
According to a recent survey of 21 countries led by the European Social Survey, people's perceptions of older persons and youth are different, depending on their country of origin. For instance, English people consider themselves old at age 58, whereas Cypriots think they are old at 67. If a cleavage exists in people's representation of older persons between northern and southern Europe, young and older persons also have different points of view concerning the time in which people become 

France: Four Illiterate Malians, Given no Training for Advancement, Win Trial (March 26, 2010)
(Article in French)
Four illiterate Malian apprentices between ages 54 and 62 worked in a Parisian hotel kitchen for 25 to 33 years and were given no opportunities to progress beyond the apprenticeship. They decided to sue their employer for not allowing them to progress and won their case.

France: At Ages 23 and 72, They Exchange Housing and Services (March 26, 2010)
(Article in French)
Regis, a 23-year-old musicology student, rents a very cheap room in 72-year-old Annie's house in exchange for walking her dog and teaching her how to use the Internet. Intergenerational housing is both convenient and enjoyable for both housemates. Consequently, this kind of arrangement is growing in France. 

United Kingdom: Retired, and Supporting a Family (March 25, 2010)
Andrew Webster was teaching English at a private school in west London and had just turned 67 when he got a retirement notice in his pigeonhole. With still dependent children, he had been looking forward to slowing down gradually, but not this. His employer wanted to make use of a law passed in 2006 enabling companies to tell staff to leave on any date after their 65th birthday, for no reason other than their age.

Russia: Grandmother Online (March 24, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
An information form called “Senior” was given out to the people of St. Petersburg. Considering that every fourth person in St. Petersburg is an older person, the form had to capture the precise interests of older persons. The survey showed It a big demand for computer literacy courses. Because of this, the government created a program was called “Grandmother Online.” Unfortunately, the great popularity of this program has created a long list of older persons who are waiting to get started on the computer. 

France: The 12th Senior Citizen's Exhibition Started on March 25 (March 23, 2010) 
(Article in French)
The 12th senior's exhibit took place in Paris March 25-27. The exhibit focused on the needs of seniors, especially in the areas of employment, new technologies, lifestyle, health and tourism.

Russia: The Elderly Are Being Taught Computer Literacy (March 22, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
March 22 marks the beginning of free computer courses for old people living in St. Petersburg, Russia. Courses follow a special program called, "Basics of Computer Literacy,” especially designed for this age group. Designed for a total of 80 hours; classes are held in groups of 10 people.

France: ''Ageing Has Become an Illness'' (March 22, 2010)
(Article in French)
Sociologist Nathalie Lancelle denounces the stigmatization of older persons in France. She believes it is due to people's fear of death. Consequently, they tend to treat older people poorly and to behave inappropriately toward them.

France: Senior Employment: Give Priority to Tutoring (March 16, 2010)
(Article in French) 
To encourage firms to employ seniors, human resource managers in more than 500 French firms believe that tutoring is the most suitable training method, as shown in a Bearing Point survey. It would be an efficient way to prevent loss of expertise when more experienced persons in a firm retire.

Canada: Older Persons Have to be Encouraged to Give up Driving When Unable to Drive Safely (March 15, 2010)
(Article in French)
According to a Canadian Medical Association editorial, everyone in society should help older people drive as long as they can. On the other hand, it is also important to help them to give up driving when they no longer drive safely.

Spain: The Association of the Third Age Will Create a Website for Use by Older Adults (March 15, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish) 
Spain has introduced a new program to encourage Internet use and improve the mental and psychosocial health of the older population says the Association of the Third Age. The program, called “Mayor para mayor.com,” launched a web page designed for older adults that includes various links and resources on aging issues and health and leisure activities. The Association wants to educate older persons and teach them about the Internet and other available new technologies.

Ireland: Boyle Protest as Service for Elderly Ends (March 14, 2010)
More than 200 people from Boyle protested the closure of daycare services at a local nursing home. Older users of the service at the Plunkett Home marched along with local families, politicians and business people. Boyle parish priest Father Gerry Hanley, who took part in the protest, said a “lifeline” had been taken away for the 50 people who used it, many of whom lived alone and had no other social outlets. “I think it is a shame to pick on the elderly, especially those who live alone, and I think the service should be continued,” Fr. Hanley said.

Ireland: Technology for the Elderly Maturing (March 12, 2010)
Ireland could be a test bed for technologies that will change how a graying population is cared for. When it comes to the business of ageing and the technologies that will change how a graying world population is cared for and managed, Ireland has unique opportunities on which it should capitalize. Speakers at a Business of Ageing conference in Dublin last week noted that several Irish companies were leading developments in related areas. They were also confident that the country could become a focal point for research and pilot schemes involving new technologies in the field of ageing.

France: 10th Sleep Day: Seniors Sleep Quite Well… (March 10, 2010)
(Article in French) 
The 10th Sleep Day will be held on March 19, 2010. The National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance took an interest in the sleep patterns of older persons to study specific health-related findings. According to a French survey institute, retirement often leads to modifications in sleep rhythms, around age 60. Also, persons over 80 years of age may begin to experience sleeping problems. 

United Kingdom: In Britain, a Debate Over Care for the Elderly (March 9, 2010)
Governments across Europe are struggling to cope with the needs of rapidly aging populations at a time of shrinking revenue. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, facing a tough election, has pledged free home care for older people with “severe care needs” in England and Wales, regardless of a person's financial situation. The change would fundamentally shift away from the UK’s means-tested system. But the plan is already proving controversial because it would require additional spending when Britain is under pressure to cut its record budget deficit substantially. Relatives and friends still provide most elder care, while state-financed care is available only for those with low incomes. As a result, many pensioners are forced into poverty or into selling their houses if they must move into a nursing home.

Switzerland: To Encourage Older People to Use the Internet (March 9, 2010)
(Article in French)
A Center for Older People at Zurich University shows that 40% of people of 65 years old and older use the Internet. The advantages of being connected on the web are becoming more and more important. Nevertheless, seniors can find the use of the Internet complicated. Younger members of their families as well as friends give the best support to new internet users. 

France: Feminism Doesn't Take Into Account Age and Ageing (March 6, 2010)
(Article in French)
The writer claims that a cleavage among different generations of women has begun to emerge. In the professional world, as well as in everyday life, older women tend to be victims of discrimination. Younger women in particular often reject them. The author deplores that this trend does not attract the attention of feminists.

Adygea: The Government of Adygea Congratulates Women on Women's Day (March 5, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
On March 5th, the Government of Adygea organized a special event honoring all women who participated in the Great Patriotic War. There are about 500 women war veterans currently living in the Republic of Adygea, and those able to come to the celebration were personally congratulated by the President of the Republic, Aslan Tkhakushinov. The events were held on International Women's Day, annually celebrated on March 8.

United Kingdom: Gorilla Mystery Solved After 54 Years (March 4, 2010)
A 77-year-old British man revealed that the temporary theft of a stuffed gorilla from a museum in 1956 was a student prank he perpetrated with two friends. Fred Hooper, 77, said he and two friends sprang Alfred, a stuffed silverback gorilla that died in 1948 at England's Bristol Zoo, from the Bristol museum in 1956 while they were undergraduates at the University of Bristol, the Daily Mail reported Thursday.

France: Nursing Homes Do Not Understand Residents’ Needs (March 3, 2010)
(Article in French)
According to a recent survey, only one nursing home in three carries out an analysis of the complaints they receive from their residents. Administrators say that they lack sufficient staff to implement such an investigation. The French Minister for Older Persons, Nora Berra, has promised to try to improve the situation by tracking all the written complaints.

United Kingdom: Grandparents Risk Hardship by Taking on Childcare (March 2, 2010)
Grandparents in some of the UK's most vulnerable families risk hardship by taking time off work to provide free childcare, a report claimed today. The Equality and Human Rights Commission and the charity Grandparents Plus found that working-class grandmothers of working age living on low incomes were more likely to have given up work or reduced their hours to care for grandchildren than those in wealthier families. Across demographic groups, one in three families rely on grandparents to provide some kind of childcare on a weekly basis; among single-parent families that figure rises to between half and two-thirds. 

United Kingdom: Don't Turn a Blind Eye to Elder Abuse in Cumbria (February 24, 2010)
The Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board encourages people to report suspected instances where vulnerable adults are being abused or neglected in various ways, such as sexual and physical assault, theft and fraud. Mike Evans, independent Chairman of the Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board, said: "Abuse and neglect can only be reduced if people know about what they can do if they spot a suspected problem. It's not someone else's problem, it's everyone's business and we need your help to step in and prevent abuse and neglect."

United Kingdom: Thousands of Elderly People Suffering With Rheumatoid Arthritis Needlessly, Say MPs (February 23, 2010)
According to Members of Parliament, thousands of old people needlessly suffer the agony of rheumatoid arthritis because general practitioners only receive two hours of training on how to spot the condition. Guidelines state that patients should receive treatment within three months of the first appearance of symptoms, but the average wait is nine months. This has not improved in six years. There is no cure, but experts say that if arthritis is diagnosed in the first three months, drugs can be given that limit its progression. 

France: Older Persons at the Heart of Our Cities and Our Territories (February 23, 2010)
(Article in French)
The theme of this year's National City Competition is “Older Persons at the Heart of our Cities and our Territories.” All French cities of 20,000 inhabitants or more can participate by submitting an application describing successful local projects aimed at older persons.

Russia: Triangular Shaped Envelopes for War Veterans (February 19, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
During the Great Patriotic War in Russia, all letters were triangular in shape. Due to a shortage of paper, people were often unable to even put their paper letters into envelopes. Now, in celebration of the war’s 65th anniversary, the Russian Postal Service has decided to make presents for the veterans: triangular-shaped envelopes. With 1.5 million triangular letters already produced, each veteran will be able to send three of them to anyone in the world.

United Kingdom: Charities Back Government Plans to Pay for Care of Elderly with Inheritance Levy (February 19, 2010)
Andy Burnham, the secretary of state for health, favors a progressive estate levy to pay for a new social care system for the elderly, the Guardian has learned. The development came as a conference of charities, local authorities and experts backed government plans for a comprehensive system that would take into account people's ability to contribute. The health secretary has dismissed proposals to force people to pay a compulsory £20,000 inheritance tax, saying it was not "progressive enough." The secretary favors a traditional inheritance levy. This tax would be deducted from the estates of older people when they die, replacing a system that forces many to sell their home to fund nursing home bills.

France: Nora Berra Launches the Mission 'Living at Home' (February 18, 2010)
(Article in French)
On February 17, Nora Berra, the French Minister for Older Persons, launched a mission focused on 'Living at home.' The purpose of this mission--to be conducted by experts--is to identify the challenges of long-term care and to suggest concrete solutions. 

United Kingdom: Man Left to Live in 'Horror Film' (February 18, 2010)
UK citizens reacted in shock to images showing the interior of a recluse. Now many citizens have serious doubt over the Council's ability to take care of its most vulnerable tenants. The pensioner, a mental health patient whose family asked not to be named, has lived alone in Hampstead, refusing contact with friends or family for more than 25 years. Neighbors said they had made more than 1,000 complaints to the Camden Council about the smell coming from his house since he was placed there in 1984. The Council has been alerted as to the most recent state of this tenant's living and physical condition and claims to be providing adequate resources to rectify the problem. 

Russia: Most Russians Certain the Elderly Have a Right to Work (February 16, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
Most Russians assume that older people can continue to work after reaching retirement age, if they wish. This opinion is common among pension recipients and residents of large and medium-sized cities. Another popular point of view thinks the elders are forced into working against their own will; Russians with this point of view are in the age group of 35-44 years of age. A small percentage of people claims that the aged just take up work places; others think the situation has both pluses and minuses. Seven percent of Russians agree that people should still work, even in old age. This data is based on the results of interviews carried out in 42 regions of Russia.

Estonia: Elderly in Estonia--Problem or a Resource? (February 12, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
Although the elder citizens of Estonia actively use many forms of mass media, the internet still remains inaccessible. Only 10 percent of people older than 63 years of age use the internet while more than half of those people have not been able to access this resource. Due to that fact, the elder population is relying on traditional and non-electronic means of communication while the younger generations are becoming more and more submerged into the electronic world.

Russia: Kadyrov's Mother Put Him to Shame Due to a Lawsuit with Law Defenders (February 9, 2010) 
(Article in Russian)
Aymani Kadyrova, the mother of Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov, urged her son to stop legal proceedings against the 56-year-old head of the human rights center Oleg Orlov, and the 82-year-old chairman of the Moscow Helsinki group Lyudmila Alekseeva, given the age of these people.

France: Saône-et-Loire Passes a 'Local Tax' for Disabled and Older Persons (February 7, 2010)
(Article in French)
In France, many rural areas with low fiscal funds and a high aging population are facing budget issues. In Saône-et-Loire, Councilor Arnaud Montebourg has passed a new local tax to help disabled and older persons. With the State participating less and less in the funding of the department's expenditures, M. Montebourg speaks about a “duty of solidarity between generations.”

Finland: More than 100,000 Seniors Live in Poverty (February 4, 2010)
(Article in French)
Finnish residents are facing the coldest winter since 1987. It is difficult for poor people to afford the additional heating expenses. According to a recent study of the Finnish Retirement Center, the poverty risk increases with aging and loneliness; more than 100,000 older persons live at the limit of the poverty line. And yet, most of those seniors are proud and therefore don't want to accept any help from the State.

United Kingdom: House Prices Prevent 1.5 Million Adults Looking After Elderly Parents (February 1, 2010) 
One and half million adults are unable to look after their elderly parents because they cannot afford to live near them, leaving families with little choice but to sell homes to pay for expensive private care, according to research released today. Although the government's green paper on families, released last month, described grandparents as the "unsung heroes when it comes to informal care arrangements for children," the housing charity Shelter said the survey it commissioned showed that a lack of affordable homes is isolating and fracturing families. 

France: Attacks Against Older Persons: Hortefeux Wants to Strengthen Criminal Sanctions (January 31, 2010)
(Article in French)
After the recent murder of two retirees, Brice Hortefeux, the French Interior Minister, increased the severity of criminal punishments for perpetrators of attacks against older persons. This announcement sparked off many reactions. For instance, the Minister of Justice, Michèle Alliot-Marie, revealed that currently judges are not enforcing 40% of criminal laws on the books. 

France: Switchover to all-DVB-TV: Mail Deliverers Going to Older Persons' Rescue (January 30, 2010)
(Article in French)
France is gradually switching from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DVB-TV). In Alsace, where the switchover will be completed February 2, 2010, some postal workers have been trained to help older persons install DVB-TV in their homes. This service is provided free to all seniors 70 years old and over who ask for it. The government is funding La Poste, the French mail service, to offer this service.

Germany: German Pensioner Torches Car Battling Frost (January 27, 2010)
(Article also available in Arabic) 
A 76-year-old German man trying to thaw out his car incinerated it instead when he decided to speed things up by putting a blow heater under the hood. The man left the heater on next to the frozen windshield washer tank and returned indoors. Shortly afterwards he heard two explosions and returned to find the car ablaze.

Europe: Spanish EU Presidency and European Commission Commit to Combat Poverty Among Older People (January 26, 2010) 
(Article also available in French) 
At the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion opening conference held January 21 in Madrid , both the Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero (on behalf of the EU Presidency) and the President of the European Commission Barroso highlighted the issue of persisting poverty among older people. To resolve this problem, President Barroso placed an emphasis on instruments such as economic growth and job creation while the Spanish Prime Minister urged the inclusion of a strong social pillar within the new EU2020 Strategy.

United Kingdom.: Elderly Residents are Having a Wii Bit of Fun (January 22, 2010)
Residents at the home in Rainer Close, Stratton St. Margaret have shunned crossword puzzles for a brand new Nintendo Wii to get them up and active as well as challenging them mentally. The system, designed specifically for older and disabled people, combines the use of a Nintendo Wii console, a desktop computer and a DVD player linked to a projector system with specially customized features including a keyboard with large, easy to use keys, a track ball mouse system and touch screen applications. All programs are expected to improve residents' mental activities and dexterity.

France: Grandpas Ghetto (January 19, 2010) 
(Article in French) 
Small villages for older persons are the new alternative to nursing homes--a new concept developed in France. For instance, “Les Chasselas,” thirty houses in a high security village in the south of France welcomes rich seniors who want to avoid isolation without losing their independence. However, the residents are not really participating in many group activities and some of them are lonely. The concept of regrouping older persons in villages almost closed to the outside world is questionable.

United Kingdom: Frail Elderly Drivers 'Should Be Banned From Motorways' (January 18, 2010) 
Frail older drivers should be banned from motorways and the fastest dual carriageways to help prevent accidents, a motoring group has suggested. The Institute for Advanced Motorists has called for a new class of license that would enable older drivers to maintain their mobility and independence while protecting them from roads with a 70 mph speed limit. Statistics have shown that 30,000 drivers over the age of 60 were involved in crashes in which somebody was killed or seriously injured between 2000 and 2006. What's the comparable data among younger persons?

France: Seniors: Both Hedonists and Generous (January 16, 2010) 
(Article in French)
According to a recent Ipsos survey, French people 60-70 years of age are
pleasure-seeking: 87% of them own their own homes and 53% have a monthly income of 2500 euros and over. They are also generous with their close relatives, especially because, since January 1, older persons below 80 years old can give money (up to 31,395 euros) to their children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren without paying any tax to the government.

Russia: It Became Dreadful to Live (January 14, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
Many older people in Saint Petersburg still live in communal apartments (where many different families occupy each single room in the apartment). The situation is worse than it was before because many of the people who live with older people are drug addicts, immigrants and members of other groups that use force to kick older people out of their rooms so they have more space to live. This article is a direct challenge to President Medvedev asking him to make a change and help protect older people from domestic violence. 

Ukraine: Police Break up Retirees Under the Walls of Timoshenko (January 13, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
As a protest against the government's actions in social security, retirees from the Party of Regions gathered in front of the Executive Ministry building. However, the protest didn't last long because policemen assaulted the retirees and broke up the demonstration. Apparently, Julia Timoshenko, who is a candidate for the post of the President, is using these methods to reach the highest office in the country. Retirees and other citizens voting at the second round of elections for the President should make their wishes known if they want a positive change in their society.

France: The Boom of Medicalized Nursing Homes (January 12, 2010)
(Article in French) 
In France, retirement centers with medical facilities are a fast-growing sector, especially for private companies. Dependent retirees over 85 years old are becoming more and more numerous as post-WWI and WWII baby boomers age. Since the dramatic effects of the heat wave that hit France in 2003, each year the government introduces new rules. Consequently, prices already largely exceed the average pension of retirees.

Ireland: Home's Abuse Reaction Criticized (January 12, 2010)
Serious shortcomings in the way allegations of elder abuse have emerged in a nursing home run by the Health Service Executive in Trim, Co Meath, Ireland. In a published report of an independent inspection of St. Joseph's Community Nursing Unit by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), researchers found staffing levels at night time were inadequate, as well as no plan for emergency evacuation of the center. Further, the working patterns and provision of staff did not always ensure continuity of care or maximize residents' safety. This report challenges the Authority's capacity to keep elders free of abuse.

Untied Kingdom: Michael Parkinson Says Care of Elderly 'Downright Unacceptable' (January 12, 2010)
In his role as the government's dignity ambassador, former talk show host Michael Parkinson condemns standards in hospitals and care homes. Parkinson, who also speaks out about his mother's care in her final years as she suffered from dementia, describes some homes he has seen as "little more than waiting rooms for death" and says he had been appalled by letters members of the public sent him. Reports of these increasing incidents motivated Parkinson to take action against those responsible for this lack of care. He was to assure that Older persons' dignity is protected and that they receive proper care in their final years.

United Kingdom: Carry on Working: Employees Could Keep a Job into their 70s and 80s Under Harriet Harman's Plan to Scrap Forced Retirement (January 11, 2010)
Britain's Deputy Labor leader, Harriet Harman, is taking action against the current retirement age and pushing for a change in the age to be dismissed. As a result of this age modification, Britons would not be forced to work beyond 65, but would have the option to work, meaning they could stay on into their 70s or even their 80s. Age discrimination will be barred in the provision of goods and services so that older people are not unfairly disadvantaged on things such as travel insurance and loans. Workers would no longer be forced to retire at 65 under radical new government proposals and would also be given the right to request flexible hours from their employer. 

United Kingdom: Inquiry Call Into Couple's Death (January 10, 2010)
An older couple was found dead in their own home despite the efforts of a Northampton Member of Parliament (MP) to get them help. Sally Keeble, Northampton North MP, had been trying since before Christmas to get social services to visit the couple, and now demands a multi-agency inquiry. Police found the bodies of Jean and Derek Randall, in their 70s, during a week of record low temperatures across the UK.

Spain: It Is Never Too Late to Start a Project (January 8, 2010) 
(Article in Spanish)
Everyone has different ways to live in their retirement. Many older people have hopes and dreams but some actually make them a reality. Here we see some examples of older people in Spain who have chosen older age to do the things they always wanted to do. Examples: Joana Purjà, decided to write a children's book at the age of 84; Georgina Regàs opened a museum at age 72. They say they now feel they have the courage, the commitment, and the time to do it, something that a few years earlier they did not have.

Belorussia: Unemployment Benefits Will Increase (January 5, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
In 2010 the Belorussian government promises to help the unemployed with unemployment benefits. This is relevant to older people because if they can show that they can still work and are still looking for a job, then they can apply for benefits. The main issue, however, is that the amount of the benefits is so low-14.5 dollars per month-that it is humiliating for people to apply for them. Leonid Zlotnkov says that even if unemployment benefits increase in the pre-election year, the increase will not be significant.

France: Seniors Employment: Companies Will be Judged on Their Results (January 4, 2010)
(Article in French)
Most French companies won't have to pay the new 'senior's tax' that was implemented January 1, 2010, to promote and encourage the employment of older workers. In most companies and sectors, management and unions found agreement on the employment of people 50 years old and over. The remaining questions now concern the quality of those plans and their actual implementation.

United Kingdom: A Happy 102nd New Year for Birthday Twins (January 1, 2010)
(Article also available in Arabic)
Britain's oldest twins, Betty Richards and Jenny Pelmore, have a double reason to celebrate New Year's Day: their 102nd birthday. The sprightly pair came into the world on January 1, 1908, the year when Henry Ford produced his first Model-T car. They were born in Manchester when King Edward VII was on the throne and the doctor who delivered them arrived on horseback.

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Middle East and North Africa

Reports | Articles

Reports

Palestine: West Bank Barrier a ‘Health Hazard’ (July 2010)
Israel's separation barrier makes it difficult for Palestinians living in the West Bank to obtain proper health care, according to a new report from the United Nations. The report, prepared by the Office of the coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs, found that thousands of Palestinians have limited access to East Jerusalem hospitals because of the barrier. This is because ambulances are routinely delayed at checkpoints, and Palestinian vehicles are not allowed to pass through barrier checkpoints, forcing sick or elderly patients to walk.

Egypt: Socio-Demographic Factors Related to Functional Limitations and Care Dependency Among Older Egyptians (2010)
The author describes the socio-demographic issues influencing functional limits and care dependency among older persons who have and those who don’t have care in Egypt. Both the ageing population and age-related functional limitations are increasing in Egypt. Age and gender influence this phenomenon; now researchers want to explore the relationship to socio-economic status in the country. 

Iran: Quality of Life in Elderly People in Kashan, Iran (April 2008)
Researchers examined the quality of life of elderly people in Kashan, a medium-sized town in Iran. The study looked at their physical, social, and emotional health, as well as whether they felt high levels of chronic pain. It also looked at literacy and marriage rates. The authors compared their results to other Iranian cities and posted a comparison.

                                              Articles

Saudi Arabia: Study Shows Importance of Social Centers for Elder Life (August 15, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
According to a special study, Saudi Arabia needs to review and analyze patterns of violence against old people in its society. The authors suggest establishing public centers of psychosocial health to provide older persons with appropriate care. This is especially important due to the increasing proportion of older persons in Saudi society.

Qatar: Activities for Older Persons During Ramadan (August 5, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
With the start of the holy month of Ramadan, the Ministry of Social Affairs, which represents the interests of older persons and people with disabilities, will launch programs for old people. It will launch several initiatives and campaigns directed at young people and students of various levels of education to promote the notion of honoring one’s parents and celebrating older persons.

Jordan: Laboring Older Persons (August 1, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
In Jordan, economic conditions causing the high cost of living is causing older persons to continue to work jobs such as street peddling. The pensions distributed to them are not enough to cover even the most basic of needs, and older persons need to pay for things such as medical expenses. Thus, many older persons resort to further employment rather than asking help from institutions or people.

Palestine: Older Persons Rehabilitation Project to Start in Rafah (July 21, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
HelpAge International has initiated the field survey phase of its project to rehabilitate older people in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza strip. The older population in Gaza is experiencing marginalization in various social and health services, leading to increasing psychological problems. HelpAge International wants to integrate older persons back into the community.

Kuwait: No Exception to Retirement after 30 Years of Service (July 14, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
The Council of Ministers is refusing to keep any members in office who have exceeded 30 years of service. No exceptions were allowed; the council wanted to ensure that new blood could take up all available leadership positions. 

Saudi Arabia: National Organization for Human Rights Recommends Lowering Housing Costs (July 12, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
At a housing seminar led by the National Organization for Human Rights, governmental and private organizations discussed the right to housing. A series of recommendations was also made at the seminar to make housing more accessible to disadvantaged groups including beneficiaries of social security, pensioners, low-income families and single mothers. Attendees recommended developing and implementing new legislation to promote more affordable housing and to revise building regulations and codes to help reduce costs and increase land supply for housing. 

Kuwait: Al-Nahar Publishes Council of Ministers Statement on Law to Protect Older Persons (July 11, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
In a meeting chaired by President Abdelaziz Bouteflikia, the council of ministers issued a statement approving the draft law in regards to the protection of older people. The draft law is also in support of community solidarity with the older population, expected to grow to 6 million persons in Kuwait within two decades.

Middle East: One in Five Older Persons Subjected to Violence (July 8, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
The proportion of elder victims constitutes 1 out of every 5 older persons in the Middle East, indicative of the high rate of elder abuse. At a meeting for International Day of Elder Rights, representatives from various Arab countries referred to two reasons for the lack of care and neglect. First, family members intentionally fail to assist the older person, causing direct or indirect harm. Secondly, family members may be unable to provide care due to employment and other priorities, ultimately leading to neglect. 

Palestine: A Wheelchair Turns an Older Woman’s Life Around (June 29, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
An older woman living in the Jabalya refugee camp near Gaza had the very modest dream of living the last years of her life comfortably. Housed in a small room, surrounded by four walls, abandoned by family members, this woman knew of nothing beyond the grief and harshness of the world that existed beyond her tattered walls. Her life was turned around after a surprise visit from a team from International Relief and Development. Not only did they provide her with physical therapy, nursing care and psychological support, but they also gave her a wheelchair that turned her life around and moved blood back into her veins.

Bahrain: Ministry of Development Seeks to Establish Unique Services for the Elderly (June 26, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
Fatima Mohammed Al-Balushi, the Minister of Social Development, said that the ministry was trying to forge a unique service for older persons in Bahrain. She wants older persons to have better lifestyles without disabilities, to maintain an active life, and ultimately to strengthen their place within the family unit and in their natural environment. She suggests stronger family ties and improved intergenerational communication.

Palestine: Military Retirees Condemn the Continued Denial of their Civil Rights (June 24, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
The National Organization of Military Retirees held a lengthy meeting in Jenin that was attended by Bassam Zakarneh, the President of the General Union for Public Officials. He stressed the need to support union workers in the civil service and its retirees’ demands for their end-of-year service bonus as a right guaranteed by law. The retirees appealed to all trade unions to support their claim to receive a pension; denying their right to receive this pension also denies the history of the Palestinian people and their struggle.

Saudi Arabia: Tourism Agencies Demanding to Reduce the Pilgrimage Age to Less than 70 Years (June 21 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
Owners of several tourism agencies set the maximum age at 70 years old for travel on the pilgrimage to Mecca to practice the strenuous ritual of “Umrah” during the upcoming Ramadan. They want to avoid problems and health complications for older persons since Ramadan will take place in August, when temperatures reach 48 degrees Celsius. 

Kuwait: 50 Researchers Meet at the Crossroads of Care and Rehabilitation of Older Persons (June 17, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
Ali Hasan, Director of the Department of Aged Care, announced the start of the operational phase of a government program and the comprehensive development plan for the rehabilitation and care of older persons. Three projects would be included in the development plan, including the expansion of services for older persons, personnel training and the development of mobile services. 

Israel: National Insurance Employee Suspected of Stealing Money from the Elderly (June 16, 2010) 
(Article in Arabic)
A police spokesperson issued a statement to media saying that authorities suspected that a staff member of the National Insurance Institute in Nazareth stole money from older persons. Apparently he withdrew the amounts from the funds of widows applying for retirement benefits after the death of their husbands, pocketing hundreds of thousands of shekels. 

Palestine: How does the Blockade in Gaza Affect Older Persons? (June 16, 2010)

(Article in Arabic)
The Widad Organization for social rehabilitation conducted a study of 1,138 subjects to determine the social problems afflicting older persons in the Gaza strip resulting from Israel's blockade. The study looked at issues of sex, age, location and refugee status. The results indicated an inverse relationship between social support and psychological problems in older people in Gaza: 16.6 percent of older persons experience fear, 16.3 percent experience sensory problems, 15.8 suffer from allergies, 15 percent suffer from depression, 15.8 percent experience feelings of hostility, 18.2 percent are experiencing a deteriorating quality of life and 19.3 percent are lonely.

Algeria: Gang Targeting the Elderly Arrested (June 8, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
Police authorities in the province of Relizane managed to put a stop to a gang that has targeted older people living alone. Gang members, masked and carrying bladed weapons, have robbed older persons in broad daylight. 

Palestine: Opening of the Exhibit “The Tenderness of Ancestors” at Al-Najah University (June 8, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
The Committee for Philanthropy in collaboration with the Directorate of Social Affairs held an exhibit titled “The Tenderness of Ancestors” at the Community Service Center of Al-Najah University. It displayed a variety of cultural artifacts and crafts as well as homemade items that older persons produced. Signficantly, the exhibit directors called attention to the Palestinian heritage and also provided older persons with an opportunity to show that they continue to be productive members of society despite their age. 

Jordan: Latouf Inspects Shama Homes for the Elderly (June 1, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
Hala Latouf, Minister of Social Development, conducted an inspection of the Sameer Shama Nursing Homes and reviewed the conditions of its residents. During her visit, she listened to the staff explain the different services offered and the new programs being implemented, including rehabilitation programs as well as psychological, social, and nutritional programs designed for each individual resident which will be supervised by specialists. 

Middle East: Aging and the Exchange of Government Chairs (May 28, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
Arab states prohibit persons over the age of 60 from assuming leadership positions in the government to make room for younger professionals and to inject new blood into institutions deeply rooted in the notion of exchange of power. Despite health conditions that lead older persons to retire, they can still teach young professionals the elements of leadership. This philosophy is unfortunately absent from many Arab institutions. The author believes that laws are needed to institutionalize the relationship between the old and the young in Arab society. 

Kuwait: Al-Afasy Introduces Three Mobile Service Sections for the Elderly in Hawalli, Al-Farwania, and Al-Ahmadi (May 26, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
The Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Dr. Muhammad Al-Afasy, decided to provide care management to older persons by providing them with mobile service centers. The mobile service centers will be established in the provinces of Hawalli, Farwaniya, and Ahmadi, according to a Ministry press statement. 

Iraq: New Amendment to Improve Care for the Elderly (May 25, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
The Iraqi government primary spokesperson, Ali Al-Dabagh, has announced the council of ministers’ decision to issue an amendment for the first time to change the law governing nursing homes. The amendment gives the Secretary of Labor and Social Services more power in certain humanitarian cases. 

Kuwait: Increasing Awareness of Elder Needs (May 25, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
Ali Hasan, Director of the Board for Elderly Care in Kuwait, expanded a campaign raising awareness of the needs of older persons in all aspects of life. This campaign urged all members of the community to fulfill their role of serving their country and their community. The campaign expanded to a number of schools through a series of lectures called “My Mother and Father Are the Crown of My Head.” 

Morocco: The Elderly and Retired Meet at the Palace (May 25, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
The Assembly of Social Work for the Elderly and Retired, organized a meeting at the Great Palace which included 64 organizations, concerning the status of retirees. Since its establishment, the Assembly has sought to represent the voices of older persons and retirees at national seminars and in correspondence with concerned ministries, noting that they are often responsible for wasting the energy and experiences of the retired.

Palestine: Elderly Palestinian Man Dies From Being Unable to Receive Treatment Abroad (May 24, 2010)

(Article in Arabic)
The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced the death of an olderPalestinian man who resided in Gaza. His death was caused by the Israeli siege that has been in place for three years. The Arab Republic of Egypt called for the need to keep the Rafah crossing open continuously in order to facilitate the travel process for Palestinian patients. Will Israel’s government or citizens respond to this humanitarian right?

United Arab Emirates: 1,600 Older Persons Receive Home Care in Sharjah (May 21, 2010) 
(Article in Arabic)
1,600 older persons in the emirate of Sharjah will receive comprehensive health services in their homes, provided by the Department of Home Care for the Elderly. The Department offerscare for older persons within their own homes and around their families in order to establish the optimal environment for social stability and psychological adjustment. The doctor from the department conducts periodic home visits to keep track of the health status of the beneficiaries. In addition, the department established a new program to further enhance its services by educating the family of the older person on how to treat and care properly for them. 

Palestine: Widad Organization Distributed Gifts to Students who Respect the Elderly (May 19, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
The Widad organization for community empowerment and development distributed gifts to twenty-five students in Gaza who competed in a project that promotes psycho-social support ofolder persons. The competition revived the principles of respect for older personsoand promoted this concept throughout the community. Widad selected tstudents via a questionnaire distributed to older persons in the community. 

Morocco: The Philosopher Mohammed Abed al-Jabri Dies at 75 (May 4, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
Official sources reported on Monday that the thinker and philosopher Mohammed Abed al-Jabri, died on Monday in Casablanca, at the age of approximately 75 years. The Moroccan thinker is one of the pioneers of contemporary Arab thought and well-known by a number of intellectual and philosophical publications. Some of his writings raised lot of controversy, most recently an article which stated that "the Koran was signed by some alteration and that Sunni scholars have admitted this.”

North Africa: What Future For Older People ? (April 13, 2010) 
(Article in French)
Owing to the extension of the life expectancy, the population is aging quickly in Maghrebian countries and in the Middle East. Moreover the fecundity rate is decreasing, slowing down the population renewal. Social aids are not sufficient to have a decent life and older people are often forced to live with their children. To face the aging of the population, the regional government is considering a reform of the pension system

Tunisia: Tunisian Head of State Chairs Ministerial Council to Discuss Protecting Older People (March 31 2010)
(Article in French)
On March 31, a ministerial council was held to discuss protection for older persons. They took several measures to improve the quality of life for the elderly. For instance, they will promote education in the field of geriatrics along with suggesting that the number of geriatric services in public hospitals be increased.

Egypt: Young and Elder People Celebrate Valentine Day (February 14, 2010)
(Article in Arabic) 
In Egypt, as in many different countries all over the world, the young and old celebrate Valentine's Day. On this day they exchange gifts and nostalgic memories about their younger days. The event helps owners of small shops to profit more when people spend lavishly on gifts, flowers and chocolates.

Israel: When Old Age Isn't Golden (February 7, 2010)
Elder abuse was among the subjects raised at the 10th annual conference of Nefesh-Israel, a voluntary organization of observant social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and others headed by Dr. Judith Guedalia and Leah Rosen. The conference discussed the negative images of the elderly in Israeli society, the fact that many are hidden from view, and the notion that behavior inside the home need not be made public, contributing to difficulties in exposing abuse. The victim is often unaware of his or her rights, ashamed of being maltreated and of “poorly educating” an abusive child.

Algeria: Algeria Presidents Maker Died at Age of 72 (January 28, 2010)
(Article in Arabic) 
Retired Major General Belkheir, the Algerian ambassador in Rabat, and one of the most influential officials in the military since independence, died Thursday at age 72. Belkheir died after a bitter struggle with an incurable disease that kept him bedfast for months. His disease forced him to seek treatment in several European capitals such as Paris and Madrid before returning to Algeria for treatment during his final days.

Tunisia: Distribution of Assistance for Older Persons - 1,172 Beneficiaries of Ben Arous's Government (January 8, 2010)
(Article in French) 
This writer underlines the importance that the Tunisian government attaches to older persons. For instance, the Ben Arous Regional Association for the Protection of Older Persons launched a campaign called “Mild Winter” to help older persons. The association organized a ceremony to distribute assistance to destitute and older persons who have no other support.

Egypt: A 74-Year-Old Egyptian Calligrapher Draws 8600 Portraits for the Word “Allah” (January 7, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
The Egyptian calligrapher Mohamed Hossny spends most of his time in his tiny room drawing artistic portraits, hoping it may lead him one day to fame and appreciation. He draws thousands of different portraits for the word “Allah,” none of them similar in look. Since he retired, Hossny spends most of his time practicing his artistic work. After reaching age 70, he became partially deaf and suffers from Parkinson's, still insisting that disease will not stop him from his creative work.

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Global

Reports | Articles

                                                Reports

World: Trends in World Inequality in Life Span since 1970 (June, 2010)
The trends in the variance of length of life, and in the variance of length of adult life in particular, are not well understood, while world inequality in length of adult life has remained stagnant. The present research examines life-span inequality in a broad, balanced panel of 180 rich and poor countries observed in 1970 and 2000. While the share of inequality within countries has decreased over time, inequalities between different countries have unambiguously increased. The sources of widening inequality in length of life between countries remain unclear, but signs point away from trends in income, leaving patterns of knowledge diffusion as a potential candidate.

World: Aging and Development, News and Analysis of Issues Affecting the Lives of Older People (May 2010)
HelpAge International’s latest newsletter raises the public’s attention about the link between ageing and development. Articles explore the situation of older persons in Haiti, older women and health, and HIV risks for over 50s. Read the article about old people’s perspective on climate change, that advocates for old persons to be included in the decision-making process.

World: Forgotten Workforce: Older People and their Right to a Decent Work (May 2010)
More and more older people are working in jobs that are low-status, hazardous, insecure and low paid. Help Age International launched a new report about older people’s right to decent work: “Forgotten Workforce.” It deals with the difficulties older people face in low- and middle- income countries in terms of working conditions, payment, exclusion from credit or training programs, and lack of job opportunities. 

World: Older Women and Beijing: 15 Years on (February 2010)
The Beijing Declaration recognized age discrimination as one of the barriers to women’s empowerment and advancement. Older women were specifically mentioned in the Beijing Platform for Action with regard to their poverty, health, violence against them. Fifteen years later, this report questions to what extent have governments and others implemented promised programs and to what extent have older women and population ageing guided priorities for future action? 

World: Part-time Work as a Pathway for Increasing Participation Rates and Extending Work life- -The Dutch Experience (February 2010)
In the Netherlands, part-time work arrangements for older workers have benefits such as extending work-life, less work hours with little or no change in remuneration, gradual progression into retirement and greater work participation amongst this age group. However, the part- time arrangements conflict with the Equal Treatment Acts Legislation on Age in the Netherlands. The practice increases the cost of labor for employers. Officials are evaluating new legal measures to assess these effects. 

World: Living Longer? Working Longer? Reflections on Morbidity in the Light of a Rising Pension Age (February 2010)
This slide presentation displays the change in pension ages over time. The writer explores whether these changes in the work-life span will expand or compress morbidity.. Will people tend to live longer but have no change in the number of “bad years” of poor health in old age? Or will the number of “bad years” increase? The writer questions the effect that common diseases have on morbidity, living longer and working longer.

World: The Human Rights of the Elderly: An Emerging Challenge (2010)
Human rights of older persons is a relatively recent phenomenon born from a perception that older persons raise specific human rights challenges which have not been addressed by prevailing medical or welfare paradigms. Some of the salient features of older persons as a category of the world’s population include the difficulty of defining "old age," the paradox that the old may be both powerful and vulnerable, and the dilemmas raised by inter-generational injustice. This report examines how human rights issues play out in subtle and novel ways for older persons. Apart from examining rights of the elderly, the authors also suggest a number of emerging problems. The writers predict that the difficulties encountered by some older persons will change the focus from the state to the family unit, care institutions and the global legal order. 

World: When I'm 94: How to Fund Care for an Ageing Population (2009)
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) engaged citizens in a debate about social care. It revealed that few are yet willing to face up to the challenges around costs of care. Three principles as essential components of any future system of social care, they are: fairness, sustainability and simplicity. 

                                                          Articles

World: How to Treat Older Persons (July 20, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
Sensitivity is required in the treatment and interaction with older persons. It is necessary to deal with older persons in a manner that avoids any embarrassment or discomfort. This article provides a list of what must be taken into account when interacting with older persons and what behaviors should be avoided.

World: Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities (June 29, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
The World Health Organization announced the creation of a global network of cities that are age-friendly. The network seeks to help cities create urban environments that allow older persons to be healthy participants of society. New York City is the first city to join the network and will receive the first certificate of membership, to be presented to Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

World: Wisdom is not Associated with Age (June 17, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
A group of German researchers proved that wisdom is not associated with age. Older persons are not necessarily wiser than younger persons. The study concluded that wisdom is rare and only 1% of the participants in the study were considered to be “wise,” according to the five criteria of wisdom on which the scientific research was based. The study shows that older people are less likely than younger persons to criticize themselves when solving personal problems; life experience helps them solve social problems. 

World: The Unique Challenges Facing Elderly Victims of Sexual Abuse (June 15, 2010)
Age and physical condition make older victims of sexual abuse very vulnerable. Older people who are sexually abused are more likely to suffer physical injuries as a result of an assault. Older victims are also more likely to have a higher instance of psychosocial trauma. In recognition of the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the writer urged stronger action to stop sexual abuse among older people. Caring people must pay more attention to elder’s injuries that possibly result from sexual abuse. They must also communicate more frequently with older people.

World: Speak Up For World Elder Abuse Awareness Day - Age Concern (June 14, 2010)
June 15 was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Age Concern, an organization that works to serve older people's needs in New Zealand, calls on the public to speak up if they suspect elder abuse and neglect.

World: GNP, Aging and Expenditures (June 6, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
The phenomenon of aging will result in increased public spending that will reduce the gross national product (GNP) in both developed and developing countries. It is important for States to address the challenges of population aging without sacrificing the needs of older persons.

World: Elderly Models Enjoy Their Profession (June 4, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Aging will not be a problem for senior models. In Europe, many companies hire older persons to be models and appear in commercials that are aimed at older customers. This article introduces four senior models who are still active at an old age.

World: Social Protection Urgently Required for World's Aging Population (May 20, 2010)
Older people's rights and social protection need urgent reconsideration in light of the growing population of older persons, estimated to reach 22% of the global population by 2050. Despite the international human right to social security, it is estimated that only 20% of the world's population of older persons receive any form of social security. The authors also describe the discrimination older women face. 

World: Elderly Revisited: From Degeneration to Fulfillment (May 3, 2010)
(Article in French)
Nowadays, older people can be as creative and efficient as young persons. They can be employed to do the same tasks and make a unique contribution because of their experience. There is a changing mentality regarding older people's place in society; their potential is increasingly taken into account and they are viewed less often as being infirm and useless to the rest of the community.

World: Book Sales Reach 60 Million for 75-year-old Author Erich von Däniken (April 22, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
The world recently celebrated Swiss researcher and author Erich von Däniken's 75th birthday. Born in 1935, he received international fame due to his published research and exploration of the depths of ancient civilizations, including how they were formed. The author demonstrated an innate curiosity about the link between anonymous objects that came from the heavens, and the ancient civilizations. In 1968, Däniken wrote Chariots of the Gods? Unsolved Mysteries of the Past, a book which proposes technologies and religions of many ancient civilizations were given by space travelers, welcomed as gods.

World: The Shock of the Old: Welcome to the Older Age (April 8, 2010)
As the population continues to become older, nations such as Japan and Germany are overwhelmed with their status as some of the world's most elderly countries. Demographically, the world as a whole is becoming older. As fertility rates continue to fall, it is difficult to predict when and if the population will rebound. In addition to the increased population it is clear that people are living longer lives and creating a “silver market.” Older persons are remaining active longer and are continuing to be productive into old age, both professionally and through education. 

World: From the Age of Labor to the Labor of Age. (March 25, 2010)
This article gives different perspectives on the employment rights of older people. In England, the story of a 71-year-old entering a new field of employment is contrasted to the story of a French woman forced into retirement by her employer. China's ageing population and their unique situation is referenced as well. The author explores the implications of early retirement for the ageing population and the effects of the economy on older people.

World: Good Planning, Good Aging (March 21, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
The aging phenomenon is spreading everywhere and it is no less dangerous than the climate change phenomenon that threatens our planet, a specialist claimed. This phenomenon is not only happening in North America and Europe but also in many Asian countries like Japan, China, Singapore and Hong Kong. In 2050, the estimated population of people over sixty in Asia will be more than one billion. 

World: International Women's Day (March 8, 2010)
International Women's Day was celebrated on March 8 as the Commission on the Status of Women met in New York to review how the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action has been implemented by governments around the world. Fifteen years after its adoption, we continue to reflect whether the lives of older women have improved. References to older women and recommended actions could be stronger but they are present in discussions related to poverty, health, violence against older women, obstacles they face entering the labor market, discrimination at work and as a civilian group particularly affected by armed conflict. 

World: German Retirees Help in the Development of the Developing World (March 5, 2010)
(Article in Arabic)
Anyone who thinks that the role of expert ends with retirement is mistaken. Some Germen retired experts established a special program to share their experiences with the developing world and especially the Arab world. Established in 2003, the “Senior Experten Service” program is one of the biggest programs in Germany to provide aid to companies, institutes and official administrations in the third world.

World: Three-Quarters of Seniors Have a Cell phone in the US, 41% in France (February 16, 2010)
(Article in French)
According to a recent study released during the Mobile World Congress, 71% of people 65 years old and over have a cell phone, on average, in Germany, France, Sweden, the UK and the US. However, the differences can be major among those countries. For instance, only 41% of French older persons have a cell phone, whereas 91% of Swedish seniors own one.

World: Coming Home Under World Economic Crisis (January 27, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Many children continue to stay with their parents even when they grow older in China. People tend to think the country's one-child policy is the reason. However, this phenomenon has been observed worldwide, mostly due to the severe economic crisis. The writer chose the UK and Argentina as examples of how people and society are reacting to the situation. 

World: More Babies for Aging Society (January 25, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
Many countries are beginning to feel anxious about their increasing aging population while the birth rates continue to decrease. In fact, many governments have launched programs to encourage women to give birth. For example, the government promises free university education for a third child in South Korea, where the birth rate is at the world's lowest level. 

World: The Wooden Bowl (2009)
The author, Ramona Moreno Winner, wants to convey a very powerful message--that of respect and love. She’s convinced that it is important to respect older persons and help them when they need support. The book informs the reader that intergenerational solidarity exists between seniors and children. “The Wooden Bowl” is a lesson in respect for all ages.

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