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IFA's 9th Global Conference on Ageing Update:
Something for Everyone - An advanced look at what the conference has in store
The programme for IFA's 9th Global Conference on Ageing is shaping up to be our strongest yet, featuring insightful and topical symposiums, paper and poster sessions, and plenary panels spanning a broad spectrum of ageing issues across the conference themes of participation, health and security. While the final programme will not be available until later, we would like to take this opportunity to offer a brief sample of some exciting 'not to be missed' sessions that delegates can expect in September.
Crime and fraud targeting the elderly is an issue of growing international concern, and its impacts upon the financial security of the elderly can be dramatic. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) have teamed up to engage delegates with a key symposium on Mass-Marketing Fraud and its impact on the lives of the elderly. Discussion will focus on long term impact, challenges, and possible strategies to effectively intervene against this major international issue.
Technological and design innovation will be a major component for supporting higher standards of living and a better quality of life for older people into the future. STAKES in Finland will be bringing their cutting-edge expertise in the fields of Assistive Technology and 'Design for All' to the conference, and will examine these design concepts as mediums toward social inclusion, participation, and effective policy development.
The Canadian Government will be hosting several key symposiums focused on the World Health Organization's (WHO) Age Friendly Cities project. These symposiums will examine models of implementation employed by jurisdictions within Canada and abroad that are incorporating the principles of the Age Friendly Cities onto the political agenda.
All this and more will be featured at the 9th Global Conference on Ageing and we encourage you to register today and join us in Montreal. Registration details are available on the Ageing Design Montreal website here!
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IFA's 9th Global Conference on Ageing:
Reminder to Register!
The IFA would like to thank all those who have already registered for the 9th Global Conference on Ageing, and we invited all those planning to attend to register soon! For those that plan to attend as presenters, we wish to remind you that the registration deadline for the conference is quickly approaching so register soon!
Registration details, including pricing, can be found here. Keep in mind that there are special rates for students and seniors. The Conference website also includes details about accommodations in Montreal - for any inquiries about registration or accommodations, please contact Ageing Design Montreal at info@vdm-adm.org - they will be happy to assist you.
We look forward to seeing you in Montreal in September! |
Preparing the Future with Seniors in Québec
Minister Marguerite Blais |
 All industrialized states are conscious of the ageing of their populations and of the fact that this trend will become more marked during the first half of the 21st century. Even if there is a desire on their part to encourage both larger families and immigration to change the direction of their demographic curve, they also recognize that whatever happens, they need to adjust to the fact that the age of the largest segment of their population will inevitably move forward.
In Canada, Québec is one of the advanced societies in which the phenomenon of population ageing is the most evident. If the present trend continues, in the 30 years from 1996 to 2026, the proportion of the population aged 65 and older, which is currently 14.4%, will have nearly doubled to about 25%, according to the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
This situation will lead to a significant shake-up in all spheres of Québec society. It calls for serious thought and an ongoing commitment on the part of all of society's players, to ensure that these changes are turned into favourable opportunities for the economic and social development of Québec.
On May 9, 2007, in order to better pursue the work that has already been accomplished with respect to this question, Québec Premier Jean Charest announced the creation of a public consultation on living conditions of seniors. Preparing the Future with our Seniors - PUBLIC CONSULTATION REPORT ON LIVING CONDITIONS OF QUÉBEC SENIORS Read the Full Report
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IFA Policy Work Update
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Over the last year, the IFA has undertaken extensive policy research to establish the organization as a resource for up-to-date policy information as it relates to ageing in key areas. To date, two major papers have been drafted: An Eight Country Review on Age Discrimination Legislation and Engaging Seniors. The IFA will be making the results of our policy work available on our new website, as well as producing a CD-Rom containing both papers and associated documentation for purchase. IFA's 9th Global Conference on Ageing will be the first opportunity to obtain personal copies of these policy documents: CD-Rom copies will be available at a conference booth, and will be available for direct purchase from the IFA online following the 9th Global Conference on Ageing. Please refer to the IFA website for more information about our policy work.
Those attending the 9th Global Conference on Ageing will also have an opportunity to gain greater insight in these important areas from international experts in the field, as both Age Discrimination and Engaging Seniors research will be featured as key symposiums.
For more information on IFA's policy work, please contact Mr. Stephen Charters at scharters@ifa-fiv.org
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promotes and facilitates Age-Friendly Cities
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New Partnership between the WHO Ageing and Life Course Programme and the
IFA
The IFA is excited to announce an
agreement with the WHO's Ageing and Life Course Programme to promote and
facilitate the development of Age-Friendly Communities (AFCs), based on the
principles laid out in the WHO's 2007 Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide. The
scope of the collaboration with civil society to which IFA has responded
includes promoting the Guide through the IFA's advocacy and education
activities; developing and maintaining a website of good practices and community
development tools; and maintaining an electronic mailing list of groups and
individuals collaborating in the implementation of the Guide. IFA is also
committed to provide an electronic forum dedicated to the AFC movement
world-wide.
The IFA has also agreed to organize conference sessions,
workshops and meetings on the theme of the AFC movement. Our pledge to the
age-friendly communities' movement is reflected in the strong representation
we will be giving to AFC
initiatives during our 9th Global Conference in September. We particularly look
forward to working with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Division of Aging
and Seniors to present symposiums and workshops on the Canadian experience of
creating age-friendly communities, to provide important insights for
policy-makers in other countries who are engaging this complex
issue.
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3rd Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day:
My World...Your World...Our World - Free of Elder Abuse
2008 marked the 3rd Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), held on June 15. Marking the observance of this important day was a major international conference held in Ottawa, Canada on June 16 and 17, organized by the International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) in conjunction with the Canadian Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse (CNPEA).
 Canada was selected to host this year's WEAAD conference in recognition of the advances it has made in raising awareness and the preventing of elder abuse. Canada's commitment to combating elder abuse was reaffirmed during a keynote speech by the Honourable Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Secretary of State (Seniors), who announced plans for Canada to launch a national awareness campaign on elder abuse. The IFA was represented by our President, Mrs. Irene Hoskins, who gave a keynote address on the "Role of International NGOs in the Global Strategy to Combat Elder Abuse."
The theme of this year's conference was: "Building Knowledge and Networks to Address Elder Abuse: Pathways to Human Rights." Discussion focused on the latest knowledge and practices regarding elder abuse, based upon the theoretical framework of the 1991 UN Principles for Older Persons. The conference was an opportunity for delegates to exchange information and discuss policy innovations and practices from their home countries.
In addition to the WEAAD conference in Ottawa, many other countries ranging from Australia, Belgium, Hong Kong, India and the United States held observances in their own jurisdictions to raise awareness on elder abuse. More information on the conference and other international observances can be found here.
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IFA Announcements:
The Annual General Meeting and Nominations to the Board of Directors
Announcement 1: IFA's Annual General Meeting for 2008 will be held in conjunction with the 9th Global Conference on Ageing in September. The provisional meeting agenda is available on the IFA website (link). Members are invited to propose amendments to the provisional agenda in writing (letter, fax, email), addressed to the Secretary General at IFA headquarters by 7 July 2008.
Announcement 2: Nominations to the IFA Board of Directors are now being accepted - the nomination period for is open until July 18, 2008. Individual members in good standing or persons representing organizations in good standing may make nominations. New Directors will be officially announced at the Annual General Meeting in September.
For details on the nomination process, and to access a nomination form, please visit the IFA website (link). For more information on the nomination process, the role of Directors and other practical information about involvement, please contact the Secretary-General, Dr Jane Barratt at jbarratt@ifa-fiv.org.
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Seniors without Borders
Meet Mr Stig Elliot Nyegaard
Seniors without Borders is a not-for-profit organization of older people dedicated to making use of their lifetime experience, their skills and their determination to the benefit of those less fortunate in the world. Sharing similar principles to organizations such as Doctors and Engineers without Borders, Seniors without Borders has the mandate to 'use and communicate the professional and human resources among seniors who with their lifelong working experience want to improve life conditions for the poorest in all parts of the world'.
Formed in 2002 in Denmark, Seniors without Borders continues its commitments internationally, supporting local development projects around the world, including Bicycles for Senegal, supporting street youths in Peru, education projects in Vietnam and much more. An overview of the organization and some current projects is available here. Seniors without Borders is always looking for participants and collaborators for its various international projects. If you would like more information or to find out how to become involved, please email Chairman Stig Elliot Nyegaard (elliot@post1.tele.dk) or visit their website at www.seniorerudengraenser.dk
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Age Friendly Cities Update:
An Overview of Action in Canada
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Age-friendly Cities is a movement to be better addressed the needs of older people in terms of accessibility, health and security in urban environments. Since the movement's inception in 2005, Canada has been an active and innovative partner in creating age-friendly urban centres. Of the 33 cities initially selected from around the world to participate in the WHO's Global Age-Friendly Cities project (2006), four were in Canada - Saanich, Portage La Prairie, Sherbrooke and Halifax. At least thirty Canadian municipal regions will be joining in the global initiative to develop age-friendly cities and communities in coming months.
In late 2006, the Canadian government endorsed a project entitled the Age-Friendly Rural/Remote Communities Initiative (AFRRCI) that endeavoured to adapt the age-friendly philosophy of the WHO's report to the particular needs of remote and rural communities, encompassing ten communities across nine provinces. More recently, the AFRRCI developed a guide - find it here! - that will not only be useful to other communities, but also provide a model for similar initiatives in other countries. This guide has been explicitly adopted by the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba in framing their policy toward creating age-friendly communities.
The provinces have also been active in developing policy and practice: in February, the Manitoba announced the launch of the Age-Friendly Manitoba Initiative. To date, this initiative includes ten towns and municipalities, which will receive provincial funding for needs-assessment and local action in keeping with the guidelines laid out in the WHO's 2007 Global Age-friendly Cities Guide. Similarly, Nova Scotia issued grants in April to fourteen municipal regions as part of their Age-Friendly Communities Program. The province of Québec has announced that it will be investing 2.8 million dollars over the next five years into new age-friendly cities pilot projects ("Villes-amie des aînés"), with the participation of six cities and one regional county municipality confirmed and more anticipated. Of the projects' funding, $470 000 will go to the Centre de recherche sur le vieillissement at the Université de Sherbrooke, which will work with the municipalities to direct the focus of their activities where it is most needed.
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A new Equality Bill for England, Wales and Scotland
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It has been billed as a landmark move to end discrimination, making it easier for women to demand equal pay and ending age discrimination. The Cabinet Office refers to it as "positive action" rather than "positive discrimination.
Equalities Minister Harriet Harman has set out plans on equality to the House of Commons. The single bill will replace the 116 different pieces of equality legislation in force, including 35 acts, 52 statutory instruments, 13 codes of practice and 16 European Commission directives. The bill represents more than just legislative housekeeping. It will tackle the pay gap between men and women and is broadening the scope of current age discrimination legislation.
In the wake of the unveiling of wide-ranging Government plans to tackle discrimination including ageism, Ruth Marks - Older People's Commissioner for Wales - gives her response to the Single Equality Bill.
 "INVOLVE us - don't ignore us." This is the message that I am hearing loud and clear from older people all over Wales.
Ruth Marks took up the role of Older People's Commissioner for Wales 10 weeks ago. As Commissioner, her aim is to promote positive images of ageing, encourage best practice in the treatment of older people and advance the provision of opportunities. Another major element of the Commissioner's role is to tackle the ongoing problem of age discrimination. This new Bill is set to "streamline and strengthen discrimination legislation, including banning age discrimination, to make Britain a fairer place".
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| Helen R Hamlin: Recipient of 2008 Maggie Kuhn Award |
 IFA Director and IFA Main Representative at the United Nations Ms Helen R Hamlin was honoured this year as one of three recipients of the 2008 Maggie Kuhn Awards from the Presbyterian Senior Service (PSS) in New York. Alongside Ms. Hamlin were Ms Nancy D. Miller Executive Director/CEO of VISIONS; and Dr Mary S Mittelman, Director of the Psychological Research and Support Program, New York University's School of Medicine. This award is given to those who selflessly commit to creating a better world for older adults in the spirit of the late Maggie Kuhn, one of the leading social activists for the elderly in the United States.
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Upgrade! Construction of the new IFA website underway! |
Over the course of the summer, the IFA website will be upgraded to an all-new format with a brand new lay-out and added features to enhance usability and better support IFA members. The new website will retain IFA's original URL, and will be easily found at www.ifa-fiv.org. Unitl the upgrades are complete, the IFA website in its current format will continue to function normally, and we invite you to visit us online.
For more information about the IFA website and what changes will be made, please contact Mr. Stephen Charters, IFA Policy Officer, at scharters@ifa-fiv.org
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In this edition of IFA eNews we want acknowledge Ms. Alison Redmond - IFA Project Officer, who has been working in a part-time capacity since May 2008. Alison is an important member of our the IFA team and her contributions around the 9th Global Conference on Ageing, the 2008 Senior Officials Meeting and other IFA priorities have been invaluable to us. We are grateful that people like Alison chose to work at the IFA and bring their enthusiasm and determination to the organization.
Thank you for your hard work, Alison!
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International Federation on Ageing 
