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Health Issues around the World

-Archive 2007-


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Articles in Arabic | Chinese | French | Russian | Spanish

Also see our section on the UN Disability Rights Convention, US Health Issues and Older People and HIV/AIDS

Africa

Kenya: Old But Not Cold: Older People Also At Risk (November 8, 2007)
Older persons are as susceptible to HIV/AIDS and other blood-transmitted diseases as any other age groups. Help Age International and local Kenyan advocates are challenging the government’s National AIDS Control Council (NACC) to draw up a strategy for dealing with HIV/AIDS among older people. A lack of HIV-positive role models among the older generation is a possible reason the pandemic is considered to be a ‘young people’s problem.’ Also, harmful cultural practices such as polygamy and wife inheritance are responsible for placing older people at increased risk of HIV. Initiatives such as training older people in home-based care, peer education and counseling would give the elderly easier access to HIV information.

Uganda: Ugandan Elderly are Not Well Cared For (November 8, 2007)
Uganda’s Constitution recognizes the rights and value of the elderly, and maintains that provisions be made for their welfare. A seminar organized by the Uganda Network of Aged and Retired Persons (UNARP) focused on determining how well the state has been carrying out the constitutional provisions. The seminar revealed issues that need to be addressed: economic dependency aggravated by small social security benefits, segregation and isolation, chronic loneliness and seniors burdened with caring for children of relatives dying from HIV/AIDS. The Government as well as citizens should participate in providing more resources to elderly persons. 

Nigeria: Epidemiology of Major Depressive Disorder in Elderly Nigerians in the Ibadan Study of Ageing: a Community-Based Survey (September 15, 2007)
This report estimates the occurrence and effect of a major depressive disorder found in elderly Africans living in Nigeria who are exposed to urbanization and other social change. Its results reveal that older people with major depressive disorder “had poorer overall quality of life and specifically lower quality of life in the physical and psychological domains, which lends support to the association between poor physical functioning and depression in the elderly.” The level of impairments that the elderly suffer from this form of depression speaks directly to the need for scaling up effective treatment for those who are affected. 

Sudan-Uganda: Programs Disregard HIV among the Elderly (July 27, 2007) 
Worldwide around 2.8 million persons over 50 are living with HIV. However, older persons continue to be excluded from HIV/AIDS information sessions and medical check-up that could detect the virus early. HelpAge International takes the view that effectively tackling the pandemic among the elderly means acknowledging their sexuality, and recognizing their right to equal access to voluntary counseling and testing, antiretroviral treatment and targeted information. 

Namibia: Elderly Couple Copes with HIV (March 30, 2007)
New Era, a Namibian newspaper, reports on an elderly couple living with HIV/AIDS in Namibia. Since they learned about the diagnosis of their disease, 63-year-old Vila Amand and his wife, 61-year-old Martha Costa, go to the Kavango Bridges of Hope in Rundu every week for HIV/Aids counseling. This article alerts readers to the fact that older persons suffer from HIV/AIDS more commonly than many would guess. Undoubtedly the plague of HIV/AIDS makes elderly even more vulnerable than they would be otherwise.

Senegal: Dr. Malik Badiane, Chief of the Health District in Oussouye, High Blood Pressure and Diabetes, First Causes of Mortality for the Older Persons. (March 9, 2007)
(Article in French)
Oussouye lies is an enclave, 400 kilometers from the Capital. The people in this region suffers from very bad road conditions that makes it difficult to evacuate sick persons to the hospitals. However, Oussouye benefits from a low HIV/AIDS infection rate. High blood pressure and diabetes are the main causes of mortality: both illnesses, quite recent, are taking unexpected proportions. Dr M. Badiane, a local doctor, complaines that “people refuse to get treated and go too late to the hospital.”

Senegal: Elder Health and the "Sesame Plan," for a Free and Qualitative Care (January 5, 2007)
(Article in French)
This article draws a picture of the health situation in Senegal in 2006. The main project remaining is the Sesame Plan which would offer free health care to every older person.  In fact, since September 1, 2006, the article claims that elderly people are getting free access to health care which is quite revolutionary in the African continent.  Beyond this major initiative, the article deals with diseases such as paludism, VIH, and cholera and some prospects for medical remedies.

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Americas & Caribbean 

Canada: Dangerous Drugs Continue to be Prescribed to Seniors (December 18, 2007)
Despite government warnings, dangerous atypical antipsychotics drugs are still being prescribed to seniors. Health Canada has requested drug manufacturers to include a warning sheet attached with the drugs stating the side effects and dangers. Health Canada also asked providers to refrain from using these drugs as a treatment for dementia. The risks associated with these therapies outweigh the benefits and although Health Canada has called for a reduction in prescriptions, the rate of sales increased by 40% in most cases. 

Canada: Long-Term-Care Insurance a Flop (November 17, 2007)
As people inevitably grow older, they will require assistance in performing daily activities, but the cost of insurance to pay for an aide to help one bathe, eat, dress, use the washroom or move from bed to chair is high. One marketing research firm has estimated that insurers have sold only about 60,000 individual long-term-care policies to Canadians. It is predicted that by 2021, about one-fifth of Canada’s population will require support from the healthcare system. A need-based subsidy for seniors is available for basic care needs and only about 4 per cent of Ontario residents over the age of 65 are now personally funding their own long-term care, which includes basic accommodations and other services. 

Canada: How Sustainable is Medicare? (September 2007) 
Contrary to popular belief, this paper finds that population aging, in and of itself, contributes very little to the rising cost pressures in the health care system. Rather, inflation has been the biggest cost driver over the past decade. This report suggests that the real challenge for financing the health care system is the advance in technological possibilities, broadly defined to include pharmaceutical drugs, new surgical techniques, new diagnostic and imaging technologies, and end-of-life care. 

Report: Canada: Health Care Use at the End of Life in Western Canada (September 2007) 
This report “describes some aspects of care provided in the last year of life to residents who died in Canada’s western provinces.” As end of life care is complex and requires coordination of a variety of services to maintain an optimal quality of life,” the report attempts to aid the development of inexpensive and effective models. Finding alternative models for end-of-life care is critical in light of the aging baby boom cohort that will increasingly need care over the next decade. 

Report: Canada: Drug Claims by Seniors: an Analysis Focusing on Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use, 2000 to 2006 (September 2007)
Using the appropriate medicine is important for health reasons. But it has also  economic implecations because of the costs of medicine. This report analyses the prescriptions from the ‘beers list’, of drugs that are identified as ‘potentially inappropriate’ for elderly people. It focuses on seniors (people who are more than 65) in four provinces in Canada, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick, from 2000 to 2006. This report highlights that more and more Canadians are using drug. But the rate of drugs use considered to be high risk remains relatively stable and the rate of chronic use of these products is decreasing. 

El Salvador: Patients at the Third Age Take Care of Their Teeth (August 27, 2007)
(Article in Spanish) 
Older persons in El Salvador make up 50% of those visiting dentists. In 2006, the Ministry of Health reported that more Third Age citizens are becoming concerned about their dental health. Visiting the dentist is a priority since older persons often lose some of their visual and motor skills to clean their teeth effectively. At an advanced age, problems with dental care can bring on difficulties with the digestive tract.

Colombia: A Country’s Road to Aging (June 25, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
The senior citizen population in Colombia is growing due to a change in priorities by the country’s younger generation that is affecting the nation’s birthrate. While young adults are having fewer children, preferring to spend their resources on obtaining a better quality of life or migrating to other parts of the world, medical advances are extending the lifespan. As a result, the Colombian government is finding an increase in illnesses affecting the elderly population that a shrinking adult population must now confront. 

Chile: Expenses for Health for the Elderly Could Quadruple by 2020 (June 12, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
According to a Health Department study, expenses for health of older persons could  quadruple by 2020. Chile has an accelerating aging challenge. In 2020 around 17.3% of the population will be older than 60 years, up from 2002 when only 11.4% were older people. In 2006 the Health Department found that 7.5% of Chileans are old and poor. Although the Health Supervisor said the government must create programs to help older people, it is also necessary that the elderly take care of themselves by changing some of their unhealthy habits.

Chile: Chile’s Aging Population Facing Healthcare Crisis (May 23, 2007)
While the number of senior citizens on the rise in Chile, few doctors are prepared to meet the needs of an aging population. One of the main problems the healthcare industry will face is the current lack of gerontologists. It is estimated that there is only one gerontologist for every 250,000 residents (the European Union standards currently recommend that there be one gerontologist for every 5,000 residents). Though some have called for the training of more doctors specializing in gerontology, other say the real solution lies in changing the perception of elder citizens in society. 

Cuba: Despite Hardships, Cubans Live Long Lives (April 23, 2007)
Cubans extol their free medical care, mild climate, and subsidized food, water, and transportation, despite the “hardships and shortages they suffer."  Cubans credit their average life expectancy of 77.08 years to their easily accessible services and resources, which have vastly improved the quality of life of the elderly. When prescription drugs and visits to the doctor are free for instance, the elderly can relish a stress-free lifestyle. The government is older people-friendly and runs community groups and residence halls that provide support for the elderly. 

Chile: Air Pollution and Mortality in Chile: Susceptibility among the Elderly (April 2007)
This study examines the influence of relatively high concentrations of air pollution on mortality in a general population sample and in the very elderly. The results suggest that the elderly are particularly prone to dying from air pollution; concentrations deemed acceptable for the general population may undermine the health of the elderly. 

Colombia: University of Antioquia Will Continue Services for Retirees (March 29, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
At the eleventh hour, the University of Antioquia’s president decided that the University’s healthcare center will not abandon retirees who were former employees. Retirees originally were forced to give up their health coverage with the University and receive State services which are inadequate and more costly than the services from the University. The retirees protested, stating that it is their right as former University employees to continue their health service from the University. They won back their University coverage.

Chile: Neighborhoods that Encourage Elderly Persons to Walk (March 5, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Are neighborhoods with lots of squares and parks ideal for elderly persons? According to a study, an ideal neighborhood for elderly persons is one that has shops, banks, and restaurants. The study reveals that elderly persons who live close to these kinds of destinations are more likely to be physically active and walk around. Older persons need a good environment to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Chile: Pets Can Be a Healthy Companionship for Elderly People (February 16, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Pets can help the people in their “golden age” remain mentally and physically active. Selecting the right kind of pet is key for the elderly owners. Studies show that having pets has many advantages – from reducing the chance of developing depression and other diseases to keeping better track of medicinal intake. It also allows the elderly owner to have a more positive attitude towards life. For example, 76-year-old Jeannette Asfura used to only complain about her physical pain whenever her children called. This stopped completely when she adopted Lulu, a small dog. Now all she talks about her little Lulu when her children call. This article offers other positive testimonies, more details about the different benefits of having a pet, and a guide on how to select an appropriate pet to meet your needs.

Venezuela: The Municipals Will Pay Debt on Health Insurance for Elderly Persons (February 14, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
A new Venezuelan law requires municipals to be responsible for the debt on health insurance for elderly persons. A spokesperson explained that services and access to healthcare should not be affected; the only difference during the transition process is who will be in charge of funding the healthcare program.

Chile: Elderly People Deal Better with Crisis (February 5, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Contrary to popular belief, elderly people are more likely to deal with crisis better than their younger counterparts. The US National Institute of Aging funded research that indicated elderly persons’ reactions to bad news are usually better and calmer than their children or grandchildren. The study shows that elderly persons process information in their brains in a different way and are less sensitive to disagreeable details. This article explains the cerebral processing of information and how that influences elderly persons’ thinking and response.

Canada: Report: Resident Safety: Characteristics Associated With Falling in Ontario Complex Continuing Care (February 2007)
The analysis focused on 6,000 longer-stay patients in hospitals (representing 25% of all patients in Ontario complex continuing care facilities) in 2005–2006. Falls were documented for 8% of the study population. The risk of falling was higher for patients who required help in moving around, who used certain prescription medications (sedatives, for example) or who had fallen previously—and the probability of falling increased dramatically for patients with more than one of these risk factors.

Argentina: More than Half a Million Pensioners Cannot get Tested (January 29, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
According to an official notice of the “Federación Bioquímica de la Provincia de Buenos Aires” (FABA), the Biochemical Federation of Buenos Aires, more than 500,000 retired and pensioned people can’t be tested. This is because PAMI, the health insurance of retired and pensioned people, has no agreement with laboratories located outside the city of Buenos Aires. In the few places available to be tested, people wait for long hours. Sometimes they can’t even make an appointment. FABA showed the results to PAMI, asking them to add more laboratories closer to the pensioners' neighborhoods. Old people should have easy access for medical tests.

Colombia: Science Advances against Alzheimer’s Disease with New Treatments (January 28, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Alzheimer’s, a disease without a cure, affects many elderly persons and has no known cause. Although the cause remains unknown, scientists know that genes are involved in the development of the disease, specifically with a protein deposit named apoliprotein. Scientists made a notable breakthrough with the development of a vaccination, in the form of a patch, that triggers the immune system to attack and destroy the protein deposit. As promising as this vaccination is, scientists must carry out tests on mice before doing clinical tests on humans. This article explains in detail how this vaccination functions, along with information on the disease itself and strategies to slow down the disease progress in the meantime.


Bolivia: Health Ministry and FAM Profile the Health Insurance Plan of Older Adults that Will Take Effect in March (January 23, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Bolivians only have to wait until March for the new Health Insurance Plan for Older Adults to kick into effect. All 327 Bolivian municipalities have agreed to provide coverage with high standards and optimum quality to its elderly. To assure that all older adults in Bolivia are covered, the government proposed an annual coverage of $50 for each geriatric patient. Despite the high hopes to begin distribution in March, municipalities have no set date because they have yet to reach an agreement on census figures. Consequently, the Health Ministry cannot approve disbursements until the municipalities decide how many individuals will need coverage under the plan, as well as the specifics of how medical personnel and hospitals will be reorganized to guarantee the targeted results.

Colombia: I Will Not Die for Lack of Attention (January 18, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
In Colombia, a well-known radio icon, Iván Zapata Isaza, suffered thrombosis in 1997, leaving him paralyzed. He was eligible for pension and healthcare from the government. During the first two years, he received all the care he needed from the government. Thereafter, he did not receive anything from the government, leaving him with poor, if any, medical service, no medication, and inconsistent treatment. The situation forced Mr. Zapata’s wife to become his nurse for almost ten years.

Chile: A Study Reveals That Aspirin Reduces Asthma Risk (January 17, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Aspirin is an analgesic that reduces the chance of getting a cardiovascular disease. But a recent study, published in the “American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine,” reveals that aspirin also reduces the risk of developing asthma by 22%. A parallel study indicates that eating broccoli and tomatoes together will reduce the chance of getting tumors in the prostate area.

Chile: Teeth Also Need Special Care (January 15, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
When people get older, there are two main oral problems, in addition to some less severe problems, that are common: 1. An increase in the chance of getting cavities. 2. The reduction of saliva excretion. This article explains why those problems, the aforementioned main ones and other lesser problems, happen, what should be done to prevent them from arising and how to treat them if these problems arise.

Chile: A New Tool: Blood Test Measures Heart Attack Risk
(January 11, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
A cost-effective blood test will identify which patients with heart disease are at greater risk of having a stroke or a heart attack. This will allow the doctors to take preventive measures to reduce the affected patients’ risk. The blood test will save a lot of lives and money.

Colombia: A Test to Establish How Young You Are (January 10, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Throughout history, people have dreamed of being young forever—from searching for the Fountain of Youth to creating stories like Peter Pan—but we know we cannot stay young forever. Or can we? We will definitely age over time, but there are ways to remain young physically and spiritually. This article talks about a test that establishes one’s biological age and offers advice on how to stay “younger.”

Dominican Republic: Elderly Pregnancy (January 8, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
In today’s era, the lifespan is not 40 years old. Thanks to science and technology, new and impressive changes are taking place in society. Now older women can give birth to babies when they are at the age of grandparents. Artificial insemination, for one thing, makes it possible for women over the age 40 years old to have a successful pregnancy.

Argentina: Alzheimer’s: An Active Mind Reduces Risks (January 4, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Studies have shown that there are ways to reduce the impact of Alzheimer’s at least by half. Educational, intellectual and working activities, which are called reserved cognitive activities, are considered to be preventative ways to reduce the progressive rate of the disease. This article explains in detail the study itself, its findings and what people can do to reduce the chance of getting Alzheimer’s or slow down its development.

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Asia Pacific

Reports | Articles 


Reports

Australia: The Financial Impact of Entering Aged Care (September 2007)
This report illustrates the likely aged care costs – dubbed ‘aged care shock’ –
that Australians can expect to face in their retirement. The figures “indicate that retiring Australians (and especially women) face a considerable risk that they will require aged care services during their remaining lifetime and that the private cost of those services will substantially impact on their finances if they have not planned for those costs.” 

China: Health and Health Care of the Older Population in Urban and Rural China: 2000 (September 2007)
This analysis describes the health status and health care of China’s older population in 2000. It examines older people’s activity limitation, chronic disease status, self-assessed health, and lifestyle behaviors. Some major findings in this report include nearly half of the older population in China reported some activity limitation; women, the unmarried, the less educated, and the poor more commonly reported activity limitations; urban/rural residence was associated with older people’s health care utilization; and about half of older Chinese worried about financial resources for daily living and health care. 

Australia: Residential Aged Care in Australia 2005-06 (June 2007)
Residential aged care facilities cover a variety of elder services. This report provides comprehensive welfare statistics about the residents in these facilities in Australia. Overall, the statistics indicate that the number of residential aged care institutions is increasing, that women outnumber men, and that indigenous populations have a high use rate. 

Australia: Current and Future Demand for Specialist Disability Services (June 2007)
A recent Australian report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare highlights the needs of the country’s disabled population for accommodation and respite services, community access services, and employment services. The aging of the general population, and of the population with a disability, is likely to increase demand for services to support both disability and ageing needs in the future. People may need complementary combinations of support from both the disability and aged care service sectors.

Australia: Australian Bureau of Statistics: Older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (May 29, 2007)
The document provides an overview of the health and social circumstances of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Older indigenous Australians tend to be more involved in the community life than non-indigenous older people. Among Australians aged 55 years and over, indigenous people were more than 1.5 times as likely as non-indigenous people to report their health as fair or poor. About 70% of older indigenous people reported a disability or long-term health condition. Life expectancy at birth was estimated at 59 years for Indigenous males and 65 years for Indigenous females - 17 years below the life expectancies for all Australian males and for all Australian females.

Report: Cambodia; Older Persons’ AIDS Knowledge and Willingness to Provide Care in an Impoverished Nation: Evidence from Cambodia (April 2007)
This study examines what persons aged 60 and over in Cambodia know about HIV/AIDS in their country which has the highest HIV prevalence in Asia. It is clear that older aged parents commonly play a key role in the care of their adult  sons and daughters living with AIDS. Their willingness to provide care to a family member increases with the level of correct knowledge about the infection. But how can older persons learn about AIDS? The study suggests that helping older persons own radios and televisions may help, especially if a media campaign follows that describes AIDS, its causes, and what can be done. 

Articles 

China: 800 Elderly People Enjoy Home-based Care (December 24, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
One year ago, the city of Shude started a home-based care service for older persons. based on four major principles. These principles include step-by-step development, public-private shared cost, government-society shared efforts, and home-based care. The institutional structure consists of district, town and village, with a monitoring mechanism to ensure service quality. So far, 818 elderly people in the city have joined this service. 

China: Reaching Out to The Elderly (December 21, 2007)
China is now facing huge demands on health care for the elderly. Almost all nursing homes take in only healthy seniors. Meanwhile, the majority of elderly persons need professional care in terms of medical, physical therapy and psychological services. This is not the responsibility of hospitals but also of the patients’ families. Perhaps lessons from Western countries’ professional clinical models will be useful for China as it faces these demands.

China: Fatal Injuries Among Elderly Plummet After Safety Course (December 20, 2007)
Statistics show that the injury mortality of over-60 elderly people in Jing'an District, Shanghai, has plummeted from 140.69 per 100,000 seniors in 2003 to 102.48 per 100,000 seniors last year. Why? The district started a long-term injury prevention program for all elderly residents, focusing on fall prevention training and other supports for seniors. Because of this achievement, Jing'an District became the first district in Mainland China to be certified as an International Safety Community. 

China: Aging City Leads Way (December 20, 2007)
As one of China’s fastest aging cities, Dalian has been exploring new policies and systems to satisfy the demand for elderly care. These efforts, combined with lessons learned from Japan, helped increase the proportion of elders enjoying government living subsidies. Dalian is first in China to promote foreign investment in the elderly care sector. Read also about its new “housekeeper service” which provides elderly care from unemployed or laid-off workers at affordable price for seniors. 

China: Medical Card System in Shang Hai to Benefit 180,000 Elderly People (December 10, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
In 2001, the Charity Fund of Shang Hai City initiated a medical card campaign that entitled uninsured poor persons over-60 years old to free medical treatment up to RMB 500/person/year. Until now, 180,000 medical cards have been granted; the medical subsidy has reached RMB 91 million. This year, the City improved two key elements of the campaign: comprehensive coverage and a magnetic card system. Comprehensive coverage will include all uninsured elderly in the city. Medical treatment fees will be discounted by 60%. And the new magnetic card system helps clinics work more efficiently and saves time for older people. 

China: Beijing To Enter A Fast Aging Period – 7 Communities To Implement Home-based Care for Elderly (December 10, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
According to Beijing Elderly Committee’s Deputy-Director Chen Yi, the city’s elderly population will reach 2.5 million by 2010 and 6.5 million by 2050, meaning that for every three people there will be one elderly person over 60. At present, Beijing has a total of 332 elderly care institutions, with 36,000 beds. These numbers are far below the demand. Therefore, Beijing’s elderly care planning has integrated institution-based and home-based care as the foundation for attending to the growing needs of the elderly. After a four-year planning period, the total number of beds at institutions will increase to 55,000, and each community will have one institution with 200-500 beds, along with additional attention given to home-based care. 

China: Private Firms Encouraged to Invest in Senior Care Sector (December 7, 2007)
China now has more than 40,000 elderly care institutions with 1.7 million beds, serving 145 million elderly over 60. At present, 13 million elderly over 80 are in need of care and 67% of elderly people now live in rural areas. On the other hand, China’s underdeveloped economy is falling short of financial resources from the public sector. Under these circumstances, the Chinese government is now encouraging the private sector to invest in elderly care activities. The government provides incentives through favorable investment, land and taxation, as well as resource allocation policies. It also promises to allocate more funds for purchasing elderly care services. 

Australia: Middle-aged 'More Anxious Than Elderly' (December 7, 2007)
Older Australians today are healthier than the baby boomer population of 45 and over, reports show. A study published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry indicated that a significant number of people from 45-65 years were diagnosed with mental health problems compared to a lower number in the 65+ age group. Researchers hypothesize that living through the hardships of life already allowed the elderly to cope better and become more resilient with age. A bright picture of growing old!

China: Mental Illness To Hit The Elderly (December 5, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
China can no longer ignore the problem of an aging society. By the end of 2005, the population of Chinese over sixty years of age reached 144 million. Thirty-six per cent of total suicides are by people over 55. In rural areas, the suicide rate among the elderly is 4 to 5 times higher than the world’s average rate. In all of China, 85% of elderly people are suffering from mental problems of various types. Most of them are retired seniors. Many cannot cope with the loss of power and prestige, some cannot adapt themselves to the new life style, while others cannot bear the feelings of isolation. For government agencies, perfecting the elderly care system is fundamental to solving the problem, which also involves work with families and hospitals to assume some of the responsibilities. 

Singapore: S'poreans Live Longer but Suffer 8 Years of Poor Health (December 3, 2007)
Singaporeans living longer are apt to suffer more from health problems than those in other countries. Elders suffer chronic diseases such as heart disease and stroke, cancer, diabetes and mental illness. Studies show that although life expectancy is high, the last 8 years of a Singaporean’s life will be spent in ill health. The Ministry of Health has recognized that many elder diseases are completely preventable and that it must take action to promote health and prevent illness. 

Australia: Vulnerable Elderly Deserve Better Care (November 19, 2007)
Lynda Saltarelli is fighting for the human rights of older Australians in nursing homes. Her account, backed up by studies, shows that most families are ill-equipped when it comes to aged-care issues and mistreatment can easily occur—and regrettably often happens. Saltarelli outlines specific reforms that should be embraced in Australia. She argues that vulnerable older persons often lack capacity to act in their own best interest. Therefore, she says governments must erect “solid perimeters” around the nursing care system. 

India: Senior Citizens to Have Access to Health Insurance (November 6, 2007)
The Indian Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) intends to give access to health insurance to all senior citizens. However, the proposal would exclude those diagnosed with a terminal illness who would be ineligible to receive medical care under the policy. The panel recommended portability of health insurance policies, a progression of tax concessions for health insurance, and universal coverage for senior citizens. Will there be provision of health care for the vast numbers of poor elders who cannot pay for premiums? Will the terminally ill get any assistance?

Japan: End-of-Life Care Patchy for Nation’s Elderly (October 28, 2007)
A Yomiuri Shimbun survey showed that in home care clinics with the largest number of deaths in elderly patients, home care attendants were not present when the individuals died. Last year, medical clinics specializing in home care services became available to provide end-of-life care for the elderly. The survey found that many of the deaths reported occurred in facilities located in urban areas. This information may lead to developing national standards of care within medical clinics to handle end-of-life care for the elderly.

Singapore: Senior Citizen Week Re-branded as Active Ageing Festival (October 10, 2007)
In order to promote healthy and active ageing, the Council for Third Age has renamed Senior Citizen Week to Active Ageing Festival. Through the different activities that will be available for older persons, the Council hopes to create an atmosphere and sense that ageing should not restrict anyone’s daily life. The Council “wants to help avoid or minimise any feelings of helplessness among older people by having year-long activities to build up their social networks.” 

Australia: Better Health Services for Older Australians (October 5, 2007)
The Commonwealth Government announced it will offer Medicare-funded comprehensive health checks for older Australians in an effort to improve healthcare services for the elderly. Starting November 1, 2007, geriatric assessments and elderly care management will be made more comprehensive with the addition of new Medicare-funded services available to patients over 65 who have been referred by their General Practitioner (GP) to a geriatrician. The health checks plan will also serve as a preventive measure focusing on polypharmacy, cognition, falls, and incontinence to avoid hospitalizations and premature institutionalized care. 

Japan: Robots Cater to Japan’s Elderly (October 4, 2007)
Changes in the structure of the nuclear family in Japan are forcing elders to seek care from outside resources, and thus many are turning to technology. Air pressured rubber and nylon ‘muscle suits’ that help keep the elderly active, intelligent wheelchairs, and robots that feed individuals with a spoon and fork on a swiveling arm are just a few of the products currently displayed on the care technology market. Noting the strain placed on those who care for the elderly and disabled, innovators have also designed and produced technology for caregivers. Manufacturers of these products claim these technological devices empower the elderly by encouraging independent living and autonomy.

Japan: Aging Japan Struggles to Rein in Health Costs (September 19, 2007) 
On the surface, Japan’s health care system, funded by individual premiums, taxes and treatment fees and covering more or less the entire population, looks highly efficient. However, experts say that the government needs to step up efforts to meet the health needs of an increasingly aging population. The government aims at saving on medical costs while increasing the number of lively, healthy older persons. Also, Tokyo has put in a tax to help fund care-givers for private home care or to get necessary equipment such as wheelchairs.

China: Mental Illness Among the Elderly Should Not Be Neglected (September 17, 2007)
A survey of 3000 elderly aged 55 or over indicates that the prevalence rate of mental or psychiatric illness among the elderly has increased, seriously endangering the health of the older persons. Dr. Zhiying Feng, an expert in psychological medicine, warned that mental illness among the elderly should not be neglected. 

Singapore: “Health and Happiness Plan” to Provide the Elderly with Quality Services (September 5, 2007)
Several Singapore government agencies will cooperate in adopting a new plan named the “Health and Happiness Plan” for the elderly, aimed at providing quality services to older persons to help them enjoy a healthy and happy life in old age. The plan will start its pilot phase in 6 locations next year; the pilot programs are expected to last for 2 years. Six “Health and Happiness Centers” will be established to provide the elderly with four main services including health checks, information sharing and consulting, daily care and organized social events for older people.

Australia: Rising Elderly Suicide Rates Raising Alarm (September 6, 2007) 
On average, one in five Australian men over the age of 75 is committing suicide daily. In order to reduce this rate, suicide prevention services need to focus on key risks that lead to suicide in most age groups such as feelings of loss of purpose in life, sense of hopelessness and helplessness, poor health, isolation, and depression. 

Australia: Calls for Government to Pay for Elderly Health (August 27, 2007)
The Australian Catholic health lobby has called on the government to provide free medical care to everyone over the age of 75, saying that rises in health costs are causing older Australians economic hardship. The health ministry, however, said the “government needs to look at problems within the existing health system” before taking on new initiatives. 

China: “Golden Insurance Project” Allows the Elderly Get Reimbursement for Medical Treatment Outside their Region (August 20, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
China currently has 144 million elderly, among which 3.7 million participate in the medical insurance for retirees. Since many of them spend their retirement life in places where their children work, they are facing the problem of not getting reimbursement for the medical treatment provided outside their original region. The Ministry of Labor and Social Security of China has started the “Golden Insurance Project,” a management information system that would help solve the problem. However, due to the huge difference in the level of medical consumption and funding capabilities among different regions, it is difficult to give the same level of reimbursement across regions.

China: Older Persons’ Mental Health (August 13, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Many older persons tend to have difficulties adjusting to retirement life, children leaving homes, spouses’ death, and illnesses. As a result, they may feel depressed and lonely and experience memory loss which could lead to various mental illnesses. Statistics show that in China about 70% of the elderly aged 60 years and older have mental problems and 27% suffer from mental illnesses.

China: Doctors Warning: Insomnia or Sudden Anger in Older Persons Can Signal Alzheimer’s (August 9, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Do not disregard insomnia as simply a sign of old age as it could be a sign of dementia. In households with older persons, family members should pay close attention to psychological changes. Since such symptoms are not typical and easily overlooked, older persons might miss the opportunity for early treatment. The rate of Alzheimer’s in the over-60 population is about 10%.

Australia: Seniors warned about sleeping pills (August 2, 2007) 
Australian reporters say that the risks of taking sleeping pills appear to outweigh the benefits. Additionally, researchers have found that “popping pills” is linked to an increased risk of car crashes and falls. Therefore, doctors advise older patients who suffer from insomnia to be judicious and wary when considering sleeping pills.

China: Frequent Insomnia Affects Older Persons’ Health (July 30, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Older persons can often suffer insomnia during the summer’s hot, muggy weather. Insomnia in the elderly can lead to high blood pressure, insufficient energy and fatigue, in addition to causing or worsening cardiovascular or cerebrovascular conditions. If the insomnia is due to pressure or psychological problems, the family should help lift those burdens. Maintaining a normal lifestyle and improving eating habits could also help. Older persons should also avoid overeating or eating too late, eating food that is too spicy, or drinking concentrated tea, coffee, and alcohol.

New Zealand: Doctor Faces Action Over Death of Elderly Patient (July 22, 2007)
The Director of Proceedings has accused a rural general practitioner of elder neglect after a former patient died from septic arthritis. When the patient complained of extreme ankle pain that prevented him from walking and made him vomit, the doctor, who single-handedly cares for 2,400 patients in a poor, rural community, did not immediately send him to the hospital. The patient had injured his shin in the hospital and an infection set in, putting him into toxic shock. The doctor claims that time was a major, but not the only, issue that prevented him from examining the patient more closely.

China: 70% of Beijing’s Elderly Have Chronic Diseases (July 16, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
According to the latest epidemiological survey, the incidence of chronic diseases in Beijing’s older population has increased from 62% to 71.4% since 1992. Among older females, 80-90% suffer from osteoporosis, and the rates of dementia and diabetes are rising as well. In the city, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, while cerebrovascular disease leads in rural areas.

China: Shanghai Survey: 90% of Falls in Hospitals Involve Older Persons (July 13, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Last year, there were 71 falls at Huadong Hospital, 90% of which involved an older person, typically in their 80s. Among elder persons who fell, there were twice as many men as women, and 43.8% fell out of bed while 23.4% fell in the bathroom. Therefore, hospitals, especially the sections that have a large number of elderly persons, should establish incident-reporting systems and 24-hour continuous nurse monitoring programs. According to Gerontological Society of Shanghai secretary-general Sun Pengbiao, “we should prevent older people from falling like we prevent babies from falling.”

China: China Has Over 40,000 Old Age Care Institutions (July 8, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
China has made progress in social old age care with the development of institutional old age care, in-home old age care, and community old age care. So far China has over 40,000 old age care institutions with capabilities of hosting over 1.7 million elderly. However, such a capacity is still insufficient in meeting the current elderly’s needs.

China: Elderly Should Guard Against Depression (June 29, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
After retirement, the elderly often have fewer social activities, more leisure time, and decreased income which can lead to bad moods or even depression. To prevent depression, the elderly should try to get involved in social activities, develop some hobbies, and make travel plans. Their families should provide care and support to the elderly as well.

China: Older Persons Have Poorer Mental Health (June 22, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
The rate of older persons affected by psychological illness in Shanghai has risen from 8% to 19.9% in only three years. This increase is attributed in part to the tendency for older persons to become idle after retirement, and therefore sometimes becoming excessively stressed when something unpleasant occurs to them. According to the article, this phenomenon should serve as a wake-up call to families and society at large for improved services for older persons with psychological issues. 

China: 98.4% of Older Chinese Persons Suffer from Tooth Decay (June 14, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
The Chinese Ministry of Health’s third survey on oral health showed that among persons 65 to 74 years old, 98.4% have tooth decay. The survey also demonstrated that older persons’ oral health is getting progressively worse. The average elderly person is missing eleven teeth, and 6.8% of older persons with tooth loss have no teeth at all.

Australia: Staff crisis put aged at risk (May 28, 2007)
According to Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency, nursing home residents are subjected to substandard care because of staffing cuts and a lack of skilled nurses. Authorities in the field say lack of funding by the Federal Government is to blame. 

Thailand Takes on Drug Giants (April 26, 2007)
The Thai government has decided to ignore patents on two AIDs drugs and one heart drug so it can offer them to all Thai citizens at an affordable price. Pharmaceutical companies are howling about “intellectual property rights” and their threatened profits. While the pharmaceutical industry strongly criticizes this action, non-governmental organizations who have campaigned for wider access to affordable medicines applaud this courageous move. Thailand’s actions are completely legal under international trade regulations. 

Japan: The Secret of Long Life in Japan (April 13, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Scientists consider rice as the main reason accounting for the famous Japanese longevity. Brown rice (not white) contains all necessary to human organism ingredients: proteins, calcium, magnum, iron, vitamins, and cellulose. 

China: Chatting Nurses, Friends of the Elderly (February 22, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Baoshan community in Shanghai has over 90,000 people, with over 40% being elderly. Many have chronic diseases, often feeling lonely and depressed. The community service center hires “chatting nurses” to provide company and support. Some of these chatting nurses are volunteers from Shanghai Medicine University, who are also able to provide the elderly with some professional advice. This service will be expanded to other communities soon.

China: China in Alzheimer's Double Bind (February 6, 2007) 
China currently has a third of the world’s Alzheimer cases due to the rapid aging and large number of older persons in the nation. Expensive healthcare along with poor treatment facilities makes Alzheimer’s hard to detect and treat in China. Also, the loneliness and marginalization older persons experience in cities increases the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Japan: A Japanese Woman is the Eldest Woman in the World
(January 30, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Ms. Yoneko Minagawa is 114 years old and became the oldest person in the world when Ms. Emma Faust passed away. Even though Ms. Minagawa relies on a wheelchair to get around, her overall health is good. She is also able to communicate without a problem and likes to sleep a lot. According to statistics, 85.4% of the centenarians are women, further supporting the fact that women generally live longer than men. In Japan, there are approximately 30,000 centenarians.

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Europe and Central Asia

Reports | Articles 

Reports

France: Good Care Practices in Nursing Homes, for Dependant Older People (October 2007)
Older people’s quality of life undeniably depends on their surroundings. That is why the environment of nursing homes is crucial. This report delineates the good practices that caregivers should use with elderly people in nursing homes, both in daily life situations and in case of emergency problems. Respecting and listening are the key tools for caregivers. 

France: Why is the Reform of Social Pensions So Important? (September 2007)

(Graphic in French)

There are several kinds of ‘special’ pensions in France that have come under fire in the new government.  This study focuses on five of them. In the gas and electricity industries, in 2003, there was 1,14 times more contributors than pensioners.  But in 2020, according to this graphic, there will be more pensioners than contributors. Contributors will be 0,81 times less than pensioners in this field. In some sectors like mines; in 2020, there will be only 3000 contributors for 199,000 pensioners.  Some claim that this situation is unsustainable. But are they looking at other possibilities for keeping the State’s funding promises, such as slightly higher social taxes or other forms of payments? How does a country review fairly all pensions, private and public?

UK: Improving Services and Support for Older People with Mental Health Problems (August 2007) 
This report follows a 2003 report Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Later Life. Five key priority directions are identified: ending discrimination, prioritizing prevention, enabling older persons, improving current services and facilitating change. It highlights the plight of many people who experience multiple disadvantages because they are older, have mental health problems and also have to cope with other difficulties such as sensory loss or homelessness. These people are currently invisible in UK society.

UK: The Human Rights of Older People in Healthcare (August 14, 2007)
Appointed by the British parliament, the Joint Committee on Human Rights studied “how human rights principles can be applied to ensure that older people in hospitals and care homes are treated with greater dignity and respect.” The Committee sees a significant distinction between a “duty to provide” under care standards legislation and a “right to receive” under human rights legislation and recommends that “the Government and other public bodies should champion understanding of how human rights principles can help transform health and social care services.”

France: Feedback on the Law about Disability (August 2007)
(Report in French, PDF Format, 95 p.)
The French Parliament enacted a law in February 2005 to promote social participation and equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities. The law covers nearly every form of disability and includes conditions of old age, making it applicable to older persons. Many organizations engaged in the struggle for elder rights attended the legislative talks. They discussed their loss of independence that is, now, considered as a disability. The law includes plans to make all public buildings and transportation accessible by 2015.

Europe: Long-term Care for Older People: The Future of Social Services of General Interest in the European Union (May 29, 2007)
This report suggests that there are many challenges to better integrate care for older persons between health and social services. Elderly who are sick have complex needs that often combine acute heath care, rehabilitation, nursing care and other social services. “Provision across this range of services is typically fragmented. Services of prevention and rehabilitation that could contribute to preventing or postponing dependency and functional limitations that lead to the need for long-term care are still underdeveloped.” 

France: Local Action in Favor of the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities in some French Regions (February 2007)
(Report in French, PDF Format, 145 p.)
In France, local institutions manage social matters in entities called “departments.” Those departments are in charge of defining and implementing public policies and they coordinate the social and health sectors. Departments organize their work depending on other institutions: the State, the Social Security funds and workers. This report focuses on local work to assist older persons in some regions. It shows the difficulty of coordinating such work at the national and local level. Indeed some issues would better be considered on a national basis, for example, helping to keep older persons at home. However, local action is particularly good at getting appropriate and fast assistance to the needy. 

Europe: Report: Baby Boomers: Towards the End of an Era (February 2007)
In Europe, the next fifty years will be marked by the retirement and death of the baby boom generations. But the socioeconomic implications are not necessarily what one might expect. For instance, unemployment will not automatically be reduced since there is no guarantee that all persons who retire will be replaced or that the employment opportunities match the profiles of job seekers. Likewise, residential care capacity for old people will not inevitably be insufficient. Though more numerous, old people are in better health and can delay their entry into a retirement home. On the other hand, the 20% to 40% increase in the number of deaths will certainly have major consequences for health systems and for the funerary services sector.

Europe: Report: Healthy Ageing: A Challenge for Europe (January 2007)
This report examines the health implications of an older Europe .  By 2025, the elderly will comprise approximately one third of the European population.  Thus, a healthy older population is essential to a healthy work force that stays longer in the workforce rather than take early retirement.  The report defines healthy ageing as “the process of optimizing opportunities for physical, social and mental health to enable older people to take an active part in society without discrimination and to enjoy an independent and good quality of life.”  

UK: Report: Dementia UK (2007)
As UK’s population ages, the number of people with dementia will grow substantially. Two thirds of people with dementia are women. There are over 11,500 people with dementia from black and minority ethnic groups in the UK. Currently dementia costs the UK £17 billion a year. The Alzheimer’s Society wants dementia to be made a national priority both in terms of education and funded research. They recommend that dementia care training be part of the curriculum for caregivers and that home and community based care models be supported. 

Russia: Crisis and Reform of the Health Care System in Russia (September 2006)
(Report in French)
In the early 90’s, Russian authorities changed the existing health care plan. More than a decade later, health indicators are still really poor: Men’s life expectancy is below 60 years old; tuberculosis continues to kill people. Cardiovascular problems go untreated. At least two reasons can explain these bad results. The Russian government has turned away from the Soviet government’s economic and social standards for health. And the current government has over-evaluated what an un-regulated market system could achieve. 

                                          Articles

United Kingdom: Lack of Sleep Raises the Risk of Diabetes in the Elderly (December 31, 2007)
Recent research shows that disrupted sleep dramatically affects the body’s metabolism and may be the main cause of type-2 diabetes among the elderly. Alarming results of the study show that blood sugar levels among volunteers participating in the research rose 23 per cent after just three nights of interrupted sleep. 

United Kingdom: Longest Living Artificial Heart Recipient (December 7, 2007)
Peter Houghton, the world's longest-surviving recipient of an artificial heart, died last month at a hospital in Birmingham, England. He was 68. After suffering a massive heart attack Mr. Houghton became a participant of an experimental procedure and received an artificial heart in 2000. He dedicated the remaining years of his life to charity, from hiking the Alps to raising millions for other victims of heart attacks. 

United Kingdom: An Elderly Person Dies Every Five Hours From a Fall (December 4, 2007)
Every five hours, an old person dies from a fall in the United Kingdom.  Falls are responsible for 4 out of 10 admissions to nursing homes. Organizations serving older persons say that the government should help support caregivers in the homes of older persons. Currently, the government “means tests” elders forcing them to sell their homes to pay for caregiving.  Gordon Brown promised to look at how to deal with the growing population of elderly people.  While waiting for Brown to act, about 25 older persons will die every day due to falls in the home.  

France : The Need for Dental Care for Older Persons is Huge (December 3, 2007)
(Article in French)
In Montpellier, during a November French scholars’ gathering on public health, Dr. Fabien Cohen presented evidence on the need to set up a seniors’ dental care plan. He revealed that in many nursing homes, between 20 and 50% of the senior residents have untreated problems with their teeth. Apparently dental care is too expensive for the nursing homes to cover.

Ireland: Hospital Superbugs Now in Nursing Homes and the Community (November 27, 2007)
Doctors in Europe fear hospital superbug strains have spread to nursing homes and into the community in Ireland, raising concerns about wider antibiotic resistance. Twenty-two Irish hospitals over the last ten years have tested positive for bacteria that can produce an enzyme that destroys a whole family of common antibiotics. Doctors in Ireland have suggested tracking widespread antibiotic bacteria strains to determine which antibiotic to prescribe to patients early in the infection. 

Ireland: Nursing Home 'Deal' Looms (November 19, 2007)
The Department of Health in Ireland is supporting pending legislation mandating pensioners who are receiving subsidized nursing home care to allow the State to regain the cost of care from their estates after they die. This legislation could cause serious problems for the pensioners’ children who, if mentioned in wills, would have to pay back money to the State. 

United Kingdom: Dementia Care is 'Expensive and Not Done Terribly Well' (November 16, 2007)
A professor at Stirling University in Scotland suggested to the Scottish Care Conference this past week that early accurate diagnosis of dementia is essential and that care should thereafter be tailored to meet different needs of people with varying forms of dementia. The number of dementia sufferers in Scotland is expected to nearly double by 2013. It was also suggested that care workers should be taught how to identify signs of dementia in people they see regularly. Health Minister of Scotland believes that more progress is needed on improving dementia services.

United Kingdom: Aging Process May Be Slowed by Vitamin D (November 8, 2007)
Findings from a British study on Vitamins D in women suggest that a healthy amount of Vitamin D may slow the aging process. In the study, women with lower levels of Vitamin D exhibited more signs of biological aging than those with higher levels. Vitamin D can be acquired through cod liver oil, mackerel or exposure to sun, though the downside of such exposure is premature aging of the skin. The recommended daily intake of Vitamin D varies for children, adults and older adults. It is vital to adhere to the health guidelines of recommended daily intakes of Vitamin D, which can be toxic in large doses.

United Kingdom: ‘Gaps’ in Elderly Falls Services (November 7, 2007)
The Royal College of Physicians of London has documented serious neglect of older persons in England who have fractured bones from falls. Hospital records showed doctors failed to assess or treat them in a timely manner. The report called for improvements in hospital coordination and standards. Isn’t this a human rights issue? 

United Kingdom: Obesity ‘Fuels Cancer in Women’ (November 7, 2007)
A UK study showed that about 5% of middle-aged and older women who develop cancer are obese or overweight. Figures indicate that approximately 1 out of 5 women in England are obese and about 1 in 3 are overweight. Excess weight is clearly linked to cancer. The connection is mostly dependent on the woman’s stage of life, with breast cancer being a more prominent risk after menopause. 

Cost of drugs: France Sets a Record (November 5, 2007)
French people are the biggest consumers of drugs in Europe. They use the most expensive and the most recent products. Annual medicine costs are rising: 284 euros per habitant, 40 to 80% more than the average in Germany or in the United Kingdom. All in all, social security reimbursed, in 2006, more than 20 billion euros in medicine, a third of the total sum of drug costs. Moreover, these costs have increased by 15% since 2002. Faced with this situation and the deficit of social security, scholars advise setting rules so that doctors must prescribe for general and cheaper medicines. It would be wise to study this solution instead of arguing for private insurance.

Ireland: Lives of Elderly Hospital Patients At Risk (October 26, 2007)
The Irish Nursing Homes Organization reported that the actions of acute hospitals have endangered the lives of elderly patients in nursing homes. Hospitalized elderly are especially susceptible to Clostridium Difficile (C-Diff), a hospital-acquired infection spread through direct contact with individuals in an infected environment. The article highlights a case in which a hospital treating a very ill elderly woman with a broken ankle transported her to a nursing home where she contracted C-Diff and died. 

UK : Centenarians Reach a Record High (September 28, 2007) 
According to the Office for National Statistics, there are 9,000 people who are 100 years old or older living in England and Wales , and this figure will rise to 40,000 by 2031.  The over-90s are the fastest growing age group.  “Experts say this is likely to place a far greater burden on the health service, as the costs of catering for diseases of the elderly such as cancer and dementia rise too.” 

France: French Social Security Deficit to Reach 11.7 Bln euros This Year (September 23, 2007)
The French Sunday newspaper ‘Le journal du Dimanche’ reported that on Monday, September 24, 2007, the French government was expecting to report the social security deficit would reach 11.7 billion euros in 2007. It was 8.7 in 2006. According to the newspaper, the worsening deficit is due to the health insurance system. In order to face this situation, Nicolas Sarkozy announced pension reforms last week, to be followed by an announcement this week of the 2008 social security budget.

France: Nicolas Sarkozy Wants to Create a Research Center for Alzheimer's (September 21, 2007)

(Article in French)
On the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day, September 21, 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy announced his intention to create a research center for this disease. The center will coordinate with other international efforts and should be underway by January 2008.

Italy: The Chikungunya Virus, so Far Away, so Near By… (September 15, 2007)
(Article in French)
The chikungunya virus found its first victims among older persons. In Romagne, located in the Northeast of Italy, the epidemic affected more than 200 people during the 2007 summer. Most were more than 50 years old. They must now protect themselves with spray, cream and mosquito net. Citizens believe that travelers from the Global South, warmer climates and lax border controls against pests and viruses, have brought back diseases that had disappeared years ago from this small Italian town. 

France: Older Adults also Suffer from Food Imbalance (September 7, 2007)
(Article in French)
Food imbalance touches many elderly people. A poor oral condition deprives older persons of the capacity to chew, which is necessary for eating meat, bread, vegetables or fruits. When this happens, they go hungry and eventually suffer a serious nutritional deficiency. The loss of taste can also trigger a response of eating only food with a lot of sugar.

France: Etienne-Emile Baulieu: Mister Long Life (August 18, 2007)
(Article in French)
Professor Baulieu is the researcher who developed the abortive pill RU486. He’s also behind the research on DHEA, a hormone that intervenes during the aging process. At 80 years old, he’s now in the US pursuing his studies on memory loss; he also created a start-up, Mapreg, to develop medicines used for traumas in the spinal cord and in the brain. To him, living longer is “THE humanity phenomenon,” aging should not be limited to nursing homes and treatments but to good health and happiness. 

Ireland: A Technological Revolution in Elderly Health (August 17-24, 2007)
Intel scientists are designing technology-based responses to the health problems of the aging population in developed countries. They stress that technology would intervene in older people’s chronic illnesses, decreasing health care budgets. The research focused on tracking basic biomedicine signals leading to earlier disease detection. With this new technology, Intel aims at quickly detecting such illnesses as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s, reducing the risk of falls at home or preventing useless trips to the doctor.

Scotland: Why This Man May Hold Key to Curing Alzheimer’s (August 13, 2007)
Kenneth Smith is among a group of eleven Scottish octogenarians who are of interest to scientists for their robust bodies and minds. The group’s IQ has actually been increasing with age, and they have avoided serious medical conditions through loyal adherence to medical advice and a healthy diet. Researchers hope that these men will provide clues on how to prevent or cure Alzheimer’s disease.

UK: Second Class Treatment for UK’s Senior Citizens (August 14, 2007)
According to experts from the UK Inquiry into Mental Health and Well-Being in Later Life, age is an obstacle for senior citizens seeking treatment for conditions of mental health such as severe depression.  In 2006, a panel investigating these allegations “found that people over the age of 65 often received different, lower cost and inferior services to younger people- even if they had the same condition.” 

UK: Prevention 'May Not Help Elderly' (August 9, 2007)
Some medical doctors are warning against prescribing medicines to combat heart disease (e.g. statins) for the elderly. They stress that "when treating older people, quality of life may be more important than quantity.” Indeed, these preventive medicines may change the cause of death.  Older persons would be more likely to die from dementia or cancer, which is more frightening. Instead of prescribing such costly pills to people over 70 years, some MD s argue that “money should be spent on interventions which genuinely relieve suffering such as cataract operations, joint replacement surgery and personal care for people with dementia.”

UK: Alzheimer's Drugs 'Help Glaucoma' (August 6, 2007)
A University College London research team may have found a link between the cause of Alzheimer's and glaucoma. If so, this discovery could lead to treatments. Glaucoma is an increase of pressure in the eye, which can harm eyesight. The UCL found that, “the protein beta-amyloid - which causes the so-called damaging "plaques" in the brains of Alzheimer's patients - is also responsible for damage to the optic nerve.” However suffering from glaucoma does not mean being at higher risks get Alzheimer’s. Scientists are developing a new “neuroprotective” medicine to protect the brain for Alzheimer's patients, and this will indirectly benefit their eyes.

France: Lonely Regional Hospitals (August 2, 2007)
(Article in French )
The fight to save Sainte-Affrique’s hospital has started again after a medical “error.” Sainte-Affrique is a small town accessible only through winding mountain roads. This hospital is a model because 120 other such establishments in small towns are threatened with closure. Shutting down the hospitals would stop the medical service for older residents; they would have to move to other places in bigger cities, and difficult to access from Saint-Affrique, making most of them distant from their family.

France: President Nicolas Sarkozy Announces an “Alzheimer’s Plan” (August 2, 2007)
(Article in French)
Newly elected French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, introduced his program to fight against Alzheimer’s and against dependency of the elderly. Research and caregiving will depend on a new “branch” of the Social Security (so far the French system only assists issues regarding illness, aging, unemployment and family). To support this new program, French people who use the services will have to pay 50 euros each year. Then the State will reimburse additional costs through social security. Many citizens wonder if this system is workable. 

Russia: Pensioners from Volzhskiy Improve Health in Sanatoriums (July 25, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
This week thirteen retirees from Volzhsky town headed to Akhtuba sanatorium. This is the eighth group of town residents since the beginning of this year able to travel to the sanatorium to improve health and rest there for free. The town officials finance the 21-day stay at the sanatorium for low-income retirees as part of a larger social protection program.

Russia: On Medicine, Social Benefits and Other Concerns of Elderly People in Chuvashia (July 24, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Two officials working on elderly issues in Cheboksary, the capital of the Russian Republic of Chuvashia, organized a hotline for the local pensioners. They took calls on July 24, answering a wide range of questions, from social benefits to the state of city parks. The Chief of Cheboksary Health and Social Policy Department clarified the callers’ confusion regarding free medicine they can claim in local pharmacies. The Chief of the local Social Security office explained what benefits go together with the recently introduced honor, “The Labor Veteran of Chuvashia.”

United Kingdom: Charity Attacks ‘Care Lottery’ for Elderly (July 15, 2007)
Older people living in Harrow are 160 times more likely than those in Derby City to have their long-term care paid for by the National Health Service. This discrepancy affects the sickest people, such as those in nursing homes. The NHS has recognized the imbalance and has released a new policy to correct the problem, but others outside the government claim that the new guidelines will still leave 60,000 people uncovered.

Ukraine: Who Turns Free Healthcare into a Shady Business? (June 19, 2007)
(Article in Russian) 
Health service in Ukraine is often described as malfunctioning. While the Constitution guarantees free healthcare, the state allocates a meager 2.5 grivny a day per person. For this money, a doctor can only offer the patient a cup of coffee. A daily dose of antibiotics costs 10 times that amount. The article looks at corruption in Ukraine’s healthcare system. 

UK: Older Patients to Get Care Rights (June 3, 2007)
New legislation in England will set standards for elderly healthcare as well outlaw discrimination based on age. Current National Health Service laws have been soft on age discrimination in healthcare, stating that it shouldn’t happen but not outlawing it. By passing such laws, senior citizens will now have access to treatment they have not had before. Further details about the law are expected to be released later on this month.

UK: MLAs Back Free Care for Elderly (May 29, 2007)
The Northern Ireland Assembly voted in favor of providing free personal care for the elderly in the 2008-2009 budget and onward. According to Health Minister Michael McGimpsey, some people are forced to sell their homes to pay for their care. “There is an injustice in our society which sees the frailest members of our society being forced to give up their family home to pay for care in a nursing home,” McGimpsey said.

Italy: A Country of Long-Livers (May 25, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
According to the National Statistics Bureau, Italy ranks first in Europe and second in the world in terms of the number of elderly people compared to that of children. Italy has 141 elder citizens (aged 65 and over) per every 100 younger Italians (aged 15 and below). World’s Number 1 Japan has a ratio of 154 to 100.

Germany: Playground for Pensioners Opens in Berlin (May 17, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Pensioners in Berlin, Germany, now have a playground tailored to their needs. The city spent about $30,000 to install special facilities to help the elderly exercise.

Russia: More than 800 Veterans are in Line for Medicine (May 17, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Almost 870 elderly and war veterans of the Altai region of Russia (Siberia) are still in line for medications. A pharmaceutical company, ROSTA, is expected to supply the necessary drugs in the near future. In April 2007, the Altai governor Alexander Karlin has promised to prevent the “looming catastrophe.”

Russia: World War II Veteran Dies, Locked Up in a Basement (May 14, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Eighty-three-year-old Nina Guseva died after spending four days in a hospital basement in St. Petersburg, Russia. Guseva suffered from amnesia, and appears to have lost her way in the hospital building after being treated there. Relatives blame her death on the doctor’s neglect; he signed Guseva out before anyone could pick her up.

Russia: Osteoporosis: Disease of the Elderly (May 10, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Osteoporosis is the fourth most common disease in Saint Petersburg, Russia. According to the city’s chief rheumatologist, Vadim Mazurov, a diet of cheese, spinach and apricots, as well as physical exercise, can reduce the risk of developing the disease. 

Russia: What to Eat After 60? (May 2, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Older people need to select products based on their nutritional properties to keep healthy after 60. The slow tempo of metabolism at this age should be considered. The article recommends the six most optimal food products: flax seeds, almond, oatmeal, mango, prunes, and tomato.

UK: Health Gap 'Widest in Retirement' (April 26, 2007)
According to a British Medical Journal study, the health gap between the lowest and highest paid occupational groups widens in retirement. Researchers followed more than 10,000 British civil servants aged 35 to 55, over a period of 20 years. Physical health declined with age in all groups but most rapidly among those in the lowest occupational grades. A lifetime of living on a low wage physically ages a person eight years earlier than high earners.

Eastern Europe: Eastern Europeans Happier and Healthier Under Capitalism (April 23, 2007)
Life expectancy in Slovakia has increased to just over 70 years for men -- up from 67 in the 1980s -- according to new statistics from the country's Public Health Bureau, while the average life expectancy for Slovak women is now 77.9 years, up from a 1980s lifespan of some 75 years. Poles, too, are living longer, to the ripe old age of almost 71 for men and 79 for women on average -- both about four years more than under Communism -- according to figures from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). One explanation for their longer lives could be that they are also smoking less. Czechs too are happier than ever and are living longer, with life expectancy figures similar to Poland, partly as a result of a healthier diet containing less fat and more vitamins.

France: Financial Prospective of Older Persons and Dependency by 2025: Forecasts and Margins of Maneuver (March 20, 2007)
(Report in French)
More people who belong to the “4th age” are becoming dependent. As a result the French State must take public measures to support the elderly without calling into question the universal social system. The current assistance called “allowance for autonomy” (APA) represents only one quarter of the public effort to pay for the dependency expenses, hence, the rising strength of private insurance contracts. France is planning to create a new department, focusing on the “risk to be dependent,” that Social Security will finance (alongside pensions, health, and unemployment). It appears to be the best option over the long term.

France: the French Secretary of Social Security Wants to Push French People to Insure against the Risk of Dependency (March 20, 2007)
(Article in French)
While a report on the risk of dependency for older persons has just been published, the French Secretary of Social Security claimed that the French should become more responsible concerning future expenses for health and nursing homes. (The State intends to make families pay at least one quarter of the total cost.) Meanwhile, the report envisages that the “allowance for autonomy” (APA) should target the most dependent and the less wealthy; thus the rest will require private insurance. This scenario forgets, once again, the middle classes who have never the priority to benefit from taxes exemptions or social aids –as the secretary reminded it-.

Ukraine: The National Longevity Record is Registered in Ukraine. (15 March 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Grygoryi Nestor, who lives in Staryi Yarychiv village, just celebrated his 116 birthday and became the national longevity record holder for Ukraine. His documents have been sent for world record registration with the Guinness Book of World Records. So far, Ionne Minagava from Japan is officially considered as the oldest person in the world. Grygoryi Nestor shared his secret of longevity: “ I have never been married and therefore my nervous system is not ruined on the family battle fields.”

UK: Doctors 'Deny Elderly Treatments' (February 14, 2007)
A UK research study shows that many doctors are still guilty of ageism. Some 46% of GPs and gerontologists, and 48% of cardiologists do not offer the same treatment options to older persons as they do to younger patients. Even after taking into account the risk treatment presents elderly people, which may persuade doctors against treatment, doctors were still found to practice ageism.

UK: Most Support Voluntary Euthanasia (January 2007)
The British Social Attitudes report surveyed 3,000 people, of which, eight out of ten supported a change in the law that would allow doctors to actively terminate the lives of patients who are terminally ill. However, the study does not explore how a law supporting euthanasia could endanger vulnerable people.

UK: Warning of Future Crisis in Care for Elderly (January 9, 2007)
In North Yorkshire, approximately 50 percent more people over the age of 65 will be living in the county by 2020, representing a quarter of the county's total population. Sue Galloway, York Council executive member for adult social services asserts, "If the level of care services continued as they are at the moment, we simply would not be able to cope with the number of elderly people predicted to be living in 2020.” The country's ageing population prompted the Department of Health to commission a report calling on local authorities to develop an inclusive long–term vision for the commissioning of care services. Still, many residents are not aware of how critical the situation is and need to start planning for how they can pay for care in later life.

UK: Scientists Find Ways to Slash Cost of Drugs (January 2, 2007)
“Ethical pharmaceuticals," a new revolutionary model, can provide drugs to poor countries at a fraction of the cost now charged by big drug companies. Two UK-based academics have devised a way to invent new medicines that could cure millions in poor countries of infectious diseases and potentially slash the NHS drugs bill. The process has the potential to undermine the monopoly of the big drug companies and bring cheaper drugs not only to poor countries but back to the UK.

UK: Anti-acids Can Elevate the Risk of Fractures (December 28, 2006)
(Article in Spanish)
A British study found that when people over 50 years old take anti-acids, they can elevate their risk of hip fractures. Anti-acids reduce the acid in the stomach but make the absorption of calcium more difficult. Bones become thinner and the risk of fracture increases. As a result of the study, researchers tested people that took antacids for one year and discovered that they have 44% more of risk of fractures. At present people take anti-acids thinking that they are innocuous. Doctors say that acidity can signal a serious problem, such as an ulcer in the esophagus that can develop into cancer of esophagus. 

Israel: New Plan Aimed at Helping Infirm Elderly Regain Independence (November 13, 2007)
In Israel, the health and pensioners’ affairs ministries unveiled a joint plan that “calls for rehabilitation programs for the elderly in hospitals, private homes and the community at large. Its intention is to help older people with medical problems regain their independence.” This relationship between maintaining independence while growing old and its potential for preventing mental diseases such as depression and Alzheimer’s is beginning to influence aging policy. Global Action on Aging hopes that as other countries create services for the elderly they will also recognize the significance of independence for maintaining good health. 

United Arab Emirates: Epidemiology of Geriatric Trauma in United Arab Emirates (October 2007)
This study took place over a three year period and examined the cause and extent of injuries to persons over 60 years of age who were admitted to a hospital. Some 121 cases were investigated (70 males and 51 females with an average age of 69 years). Over 41% of the accidents occurred at home and 55% involved falls. Females more frequently suffered injuries in falls than males and the injuries from falls were more costly to females because of fractures sustained in osteoporotic women. 

Morocco: The Graduation of the First Batch of Geriatric Nurses in Morocco (June 20, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
The first group of Moroccan nurses trained in geriatric care graduated last week in Fez. They will be working in nursing homes and hospitals; they will also be making house-to-house visits. Officials point out that elderly care has been widespread in Morocco, but what is special about this group of graduates is that the institute from which they graduated is under international management.

Bahrain: Elderly Persons and a Center for Mental Health (June 19, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Bahrain’s Minister of Health, Dr. Nada Hifath, has said that life expectancy for the average Bahraini has increased, and that such an increase would have far-reaching effects beyond the health sector. For its part, the Ministry of Health is prepared to care for more elder citizens, as a committee on the health of elder persons was just formed recently. According to Dr. Hifath, this committee will enable the ministry to revamp its services. Dr. Hifath also called for restructuring the Ministry and creation of a mental health unit.

World: Study: Gaining Weight in Your Elder Years Does not Increase Your Chance of Death (June 29, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
A new study has shown that gaining weight in your old age does not increase your chance of death. In fact, researchers found that overweight seniors had the same death rate as non-overweight seniors. The study highlighted groups of elder persons suffering from lung infections, heart disease, and cancer. 

Oman: Parliamentary Report Warns of Decrease in Government Spending on Healthcare (June 29, 2007)
(Article in Arabic) 
A parliamentary report warns that the government of Oman is spending a decreasing amount healthcare. Furthermore, it states that there is no specific health strategy to accommodate older men and women in Oman, leaving them particularly vulnerable. 

Fear of Falling Prevents Senior Citizens From Performing Physical Activities (June 17, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Researchers in Holland have found fear of falling among the elderly has prevented them from performing physical activities, and that, in turn, has led to a decrease in their health. The study surveyed 4,031 people, all over the age of 70. Researchers found that performing exercises that increase balance and strengthen muscles can be beneficial.

Bahrain: A Committee for the Health of Older Persons (June 13, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Maryam Al-Jalhameh, Deputy Director for Health and Primary Care, has ordered the formation of a health committee that will directly oversee the needs of elder persons. It is expected that the new committee will carry out several duties, such as developing a strategy for improving healthcare, specifically primary care, as well as creating a database of services available for the elderly.

Syria: Honoring Mothers and Caring for Elder Persons (May 22, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Syria has recently passed a national plan for the elderly to secure medical, social, and mental health services for all elder persons regardless of their gender. Senior citizens currently comprise 5% of the total Syrian population, and there are 700 or so medical clinics that provide specialty care for the elderly. Dr. Isam Shaaban, Director for Elderly Health at the Ministry of Health, said: “Our strategy is to protect and support the health of elder persons by 2015: we will do this by providing a variety of health services.” The plan also calls for the improvement of the health of elder women.

Bahrain: First Medical Center for the Elderly (April 18th 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Bahrain is preparing for the grand opening of its first-ever medical center for the elderly. The hospital is expected to be comprised of 7 different departments and 53 beds as well as medical staff specializing in long-term care.

Iraq: Escalating Violence Threatening Health of Iraqis: WHO (April 19, 2007)
Escalating violence and widespread insecurity, combined with a worsening shortage of health workers, is putting severe pressure on the health of the Iraqi population, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated. As the violence continues, these emergency needs are increasing the load on the public health system that is already stretched thin. People are dying as a result. The government estimates that almost 70 per cent of critically injured patients with violence-related wounds die while in the Emergency and Intensive Care Units due to a shortage of competent staff and a lack of drugs and equipment.

Jordan: “Protection of Families” in Irbid Launches Campaign for the Elderly (February 23, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
ِA study conducted in Jordan, where elder persons comprise about 6% of the total population, found that 45% of elder persons do not have any type of health insurance. Of these elder persons, 65% of them report that their income does not cover the cost of everyday expenses. Faced with these facts, the Association for the Protection of Families has launched a campaign in Irbid to provide healthcare for all senior citizens as well as other social services. Kathem Al-Kayfari, the president of the organization, stated that the initiative was made possible by exclusive public-private partnerships. 

Mandatory Health Insurance For Dubai, N. Emirates Soon (January 17, 2007)
The Ministry of Health proposed universal health insurance to cover all expatriates living in Dubai. The plan is designed to alleviate the high costs of both public and private medical services.

UAE: Nod to Insulin Inhalation Medication Hailed (January 16, 2007)
The UAE Ministry of Health has approved the registration of an insulin inhalation medication. This new medication, Exubera, will help resolve the delays in delivering insulin to some diabetics due to their reluctance to use needles, leading to complications such as heart disease, kidney failure or even blindness.

UAE: Unified Price List On Cards: Ministry of Health Official (January 15, 2007)
The UAE plans to introduce a unified price list for health care services provided at public institutions in the country. A survey will then be conducted on the cost effectiveness of the health services provided to expatriates. It is unclear, however, whether the prices will increase or decline.

UAE: Health Insurance to Improve Quality of Life (January 12, 2007)
On January 1, the United Arab Emirates put into effect the second phase of a health insurance project that aims to alleviate the exorbitant health expenses to expatriates living in the UAE. The total investment in the insurance sector is expected to rise significantly and thus help cover non-UAE citizens.

Qatar: Medical Insurance ‘To Cover Everyone' (January 9, 2007)
Qatar plans to introduce universal health insurance for all its residents as part of the reforms launched by the National Health Authority, which was created a year ago to revamp Qatar ’s health system.  As the health care needs of the country are changing with its growing economy, the National Health Authority has overhauled the entire health-care system to cater to the new medical and public health issues facing the country.  The authority is in the final stages of obtaining government approval for the insurance system which will be at least partially funded by the fund established by the Emir to support health and education.  For a full report, click here.  

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World: Cognitive Aging: Imaging, Emotion, and Memory (July 2007)
Aging is inevitable; severe cognitive decline is not. Less than one in five people over age 65 years experiences moderate to severe memory impairment. As people age, their brain shrinks; learning new concepts and patterns becomes more difficult. But this is not a common pattern among all older people. Research suggests that the brain does not just passively decline. The brain reorganizes itself, using different circuitry in older adults. It reacts to experience and shows both gains and losses with age. Older people continue to generate new nerve cells and also use more parts of the brain than does a young adult.