|
 International Federation on Ageing
IFA - eNews |
|
 |
| IFA's 9th Global Conference on Ageing
Are you coming to Montreal in September this year? Join delegates from all over the world and hear first hand of the latest development and trends in ageing policy, programs, research and service delivery. Explore the relationship to design in our goal to create an enabling environment to support our older people to remain independent and a part of their community for longer.
Contribute to the global sharing of knowledge and expertise by submitting your own abstract for a symposia, workshop or individual presentation. Abstracts can now be submitted: Abstract Submission Link
As with other IFA biannual global conferences, the IFA will continue to host a Senior Government Officials meeting with this years theme being 'Ageing-in-Place'. This topic is of significant importance for Ministers and senior government officers with responsible for Ageing. The forum will provide an opportunity for delegates to examine and discuss current trends, models and challenges of 'Ageing-in-Place' in respect of policy and practice and to hear first-hand how other governments are responding to the same issue. Governments should contact Mr. Greg Shaw on +1 514 396 3358 or by email, gshaw@ifa-fiv.org for more details.
Note: There have been a number of enquiries on the design element of this conference. For clarification this relates to the third priority area of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing - 'Ensuring and Enabling and Supportive Environments'.
Want to know more?
Whether you are an Architect, Urban Planner, Interior Designer, Landscape Designer, or product manufacturer you all have a great impact on the quality of life of older people world-wide. Share your work, innovations and thoughts on how we can ensure enabling and supported environments for older people by joining us in Montreal this September.
For the conference, IFA members register at a reduced delegate fee, so if your membership has lapsed or if you have been considering membership join today by completing the attached membership application. Join Today |
|
|
|
|
 |
| IFA's 9th Global Conference on Ageing and Expo Ageing & Design - September 2008 |
| Join us in Montreal |
|
|
| Next Edition |
|
2008 Conference Update
Summary from UN Commission for Social Development
Seniors & Emergency Preparedness - Halifax Meeting | |
|
|
Age Friendly Cities - A Global Movement
If you live in British Columbia, Canada many would say that it is the best place on earth. In the Provence of Manitoba, Canada it is stated that they are creating communities committed to healthy active ageing.
What both have in common is that they are part of a global initiative undertaken by the World Health Organization with support from the Public Health Agency of Canada to create age friendly cities across the globe. However, these two Provinces have gone beyond the city limits and with the support of the Public Health Agency of Canada and other Provincial jurisdictions across Canada embarked on a Canadian Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Communities Initiative to develop a guide specific to rural and isolated settings. This initiative has been undertaken to better understand small city realities, and how more supportive environments can be developed in a uniquely Canadian context to support an ageing population.
Find out what they are doing 'Towards Age Friendly Communities in British Columbia' by downloading the following pdf. Download or visit the BC government website: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/seniors/index.html
Look for regular updates and developments from other Age Friendly City locations in future editions of IFA eNews.
|
|
New Homes to Cater for Ageing Population in UK |
 Older people in the UK are to benefit from more comfortable and secure housing under plans unveiled by the Prime Minister on Monday 25th of February 2008.
New guidelines, outlined in the first housing strategy of its kind anywhere in the world, aim to create "age-friendly" housing so more people can stay in their homes close to friends and family for as long as possible.
From 2013, new housing standards will ensure wider doors allowing easy access for wheelchairs and electrical sockets at convenient heights.
Many older and disabled people are already benefiting from the 'handyman' scheme where essential maintenance and repairs are taken care of by trusted professionals. The service is to expand thanks to an extra £33m of funding.
The British Prime Minister, Mr Gordon Brown said in the strategy foreword that he wanted homes to be safe and familiar havens rather than "obstacle courses" to be tackled each day. The strategy sets out the Government's commitment to give people "more influence over their own lives as they grow older", he added.
"This strategy sets out a package of measures that will enable more older people to live in high quality, warm environments that are suited to their needs - homes that help to make life easier, and to turn the challenges of ageing into opportunities."
Dr Jane Barratt, Secretary General of the International Federation on Ageing welcomed this announcement recommending that other governments take similar measures to enable older people to remain in their homes for longer than current design principles allow. "My hope is that other governments follow the leadership shown by the British Prime Minister and that architects and builders recognize the importance of designing for an ageing society".
|
|
IFA Policy Work Update
by Stephen Charters, Senior Policy Officer
March will be a busy month of developments for the Age Related Policies project. First, the final version of A Global Review of Age Discrimination Legislation, with a corresponding executive summary will be available on the IFA website in March.
The release of the policy report will not be an end to IFA's interest in age discrimination. Two symposia on age discrimination are being developed for the IFA's 9th Global Conference on Ageing in September 2008. These symposia will be an opportunity for understanding the latest information on age discrimination from a panel of experts.
Concurrent to the age discrimination report being finalized, progress is being made on the second major report entitled Engaging Older People. This policy area reviews key strategies from eight countries around the world related to 'positive', 'active' and 'productive' ageing. Project rationale and a table highlighting the key strategies reviewed in the report are available at this link.Website Link
For more information on the policy reports and the symposia, or any other questions relating to IFA's policy work, please contact Stephen Charters at scharters@ifa-fiv.org
|
WHO Taking Action for Older Women and Men
As they age, women and men share the basic needs and concerns related to the enjoyment of human rights such as shelter, food, access to health services, dignity, independence and freedom from abuse. The evidence shows however, that when judged in terms of the likelihood of being poor, vulnerable and lacking in access to affordable health care, older women merit special attention. While this WHO publication focuses on the vulnerabilities and strengths of women at older ages, it is often difficult and sometimes undesirable to formulate recommendations that apply exclusively to women. Clearly many of the suggestions for action in this report apply to older men as well.
This report summarizes the evidence about women, ageing and health from a gender perspective and provides a framework for developing action plans to improve the health and well-being of ageing women. It serves as a complement to a longer publication entitled Women, Ageing and Health: A Review. Focus on Gender. This publication was developed by WHO's Ageing and Life Course Programme under the direction of Dr. Alexandre Kalache and Irene Hoskins, and drafted by Peggy Edwards, a health promotion consultant from Ottawa Canada.
|
|
Build our global community by forwarding IFA eNews to your colleagues and networks. Individuals can also subscribe to IFA eNews through a link on the IFA website. If you are interested in contibuting to the content of this newsletter please contact Mr Greg Shaw.
International Federation on Ageing | |
