Seniors For Living

HelpAge International, an organization headquartered in London and committed to serving elders around the world, recently collaborated with the United Nations Population Fund to release Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: A Celebration and A Challenge. The comprehensive report includes the following subject areas: human rights, the vital role of elders in society, creating age-friendly environments, poverty, income security, aging in the media, supporting family caregivers, and exposing elder abuse and discrimination, to name a few (access/download the full report in PDF form via this link).

This short video provides an overview of key statistics and action steps from the report, enhanced by stunning photographs of seniors around the world:

One of the most important messages to take away from all of this: “we need to rethink the contributions older people have to offer.” Especially as our nation approaches election day, and as concerns about seniors’ long-term economic security (i.e. Medicare, Social Security and other forms of public and private support for healthcare and medical assistance) weigh heavy on all of our minds, the report and its vision is certainly a timely one. Not only does it remind us of the value of our elders, it prompts us to think about ways to better meet their needs and maximize their collective wisdom, instead of thinking of them as a financial burden or social obligation.

Instead of wondering how to pay for the care needs of today’s seniors and those of the future, why not look to them for solutions?

Above all, let’s celebrate all the contributions — past, present and to come — of elders in our corner of the world.