Setting the scene Ageing and technology in the 21st

century

Prague, May 2012

Alexandre Kalache President - International Longevity Centre - Brazil

Senior Policy Advisor on Global Ageing, New York Academy of Medicine HelpAge International Global Ambassador

Allow me to be personal

Life expectancy in 1945 when I was born was 43 years – today: 75

32 year-gain in my life time

In 1945 TFR was 7

5.8 in mid 1970s – and now, 1,8

WHY?

THE INFUENCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN CONTROLLING DEATH AND IMPROVING HEALTH OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES HAS GIVEN US THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT OF THE 20th CENTURY.

What kind of technology?

Engineering

Water supply

Environmental control

Green Revolution

Vaccines

New drugs

Early disease detection devices...

etc...etc

In the 21st century, much more to come – with

tremendous implications to the way we age for those who

will have access to such wonders.

The speed of the ageing process...

... and the role of technology in the

decline of Fertility Rates

Women today aged 70 +

...did not benefit from the technological revolution that might have helped them to control their number of children.

They spent their younger adult years caring for their children, then parents, now partners – without being at all sure if there will be someone there to care for them when/if needed...

The unprecedented speed of ageing

...particularly in the South.

THE DIVERSITY OF OLD AGE

Gender

SES Age groups

Culture Ethnicity

Rural/Urban Sexual identity

Nationality Religion...

etc... etc...

Ageing – the contrasts

Hundreds of millions are left out of the technologies WE take for granted.

Too many labels: confusing!

• Productive

• Positive

• Ageing well

• Successful

• Healthy

• Vital

• Active

Kalache - Consultorias

WHO definition of Active Ageing:

The process of optimizing the opportunities for Health,

Participation and Security in order to enhance quality of life

as individuals age

The 4th Pillar: Life long learning

International Conference on Active Ageing, Seville, 2010

Embracing a Rights-based approach – implying:

• The Right to Health

• The Right to Learn

• The Right to Work

• The Right to be Protected

• The Right to be Insured

• The Right to Participate

• The Right not to be neglected, abused, abandoned...as well as...

• The Right to Stop

• The Right to Rest

Strengthening international mechanisms for the protection

of Rights of Older Persons

The need for an International CONVENTION

Emphasis on “productivity” can be misplaced.

In developing countries 80% of Older Persons do not have

basic income

On the whole they are highly productive... and deeply unprotected.

Older People as resources to their families, communities

and the Economy.

The impact of the global financial crisis

In Spain: 25% unemployment rate, over 50% within the age group 15-24!

However, within contexts such as thes, older people often become the main source of income for the whole family.

Yet...in terms of policies we are still doing nearly everything wrong

...stuck within a 19th century mind frame: compulsory retirement; little thought given to graduated retirement; lack of training opportunities which limits individuals’ ability to reinvent themselves as they age .

Bismarck was right in 1881...

But since then 130 years have passed, LEB has increased to 80+ in at least 20 countries – and counting. Yet we are still by and large trapped in the

same policies.

ULTIMATELY WHAT IS NEEDED, IS TO FIGHT FOR

INCLUSION.

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A NO TO ALL FORMS OF EXCLUSION

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Institutional

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Socio-economic

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Territorial

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Identity

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Social capital

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Socio-political

WHERE ARE WE NOW!??

Important neglected issues

• Migration and ageing

• LTC

• Ethical issues

• Crisis/emergencies

• Life course of exclusion

• Intergenerational solidarity/global crisis

• Controlling the anti-ageing industry....

• etc....etc

Re-inventing the life course:

...intertwining periods for learning, for being “productive”, for raising children, for caring, for recharging batteries...for starting again...at whatever age.

The emergence of a new transition

Baby boomers “created” the social construct of adolescence – because of the numbers, the unprecedented levels of education and good health and because they lived in Peace and relative wealth.

What a luxury compared to any preceding cohort!!

GERONTOLESCENCE

Now...we are starting to “create” a new transition...we are:

gerontolescents.

The difference is that while adolescence lasts for 4 or 5 years, gerontolescence will

last for 2, 3 decades.

Kalache - Consultorias

Developing a culture of ageing…

Planning for Diversity...

And promoting solidarity

Between the rich and the poor Men and women

Developed and developing Different ethnicities

...countries, cultures, religions and, above all...

Solidarity between the old and the young.

Pedro Kalache, 2003