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 IFA - eNews
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Update From Akita
Curious about the keynote speakers? Want a preview of the meeting agenda? Need information about the venue? The International Forum Brochure contains all this information and more, and is now available for download.
The International Forum on Ageing in Place and Age Friendly Cities is a 'not to be missed' opportunity to exchange knowledge and ideas around some of the most cutting-edge issues in these separate but related trends. The Plenary Sessions will be particularly exceptional, featuring many prominent experts and decisions makers, including Mr. Chen Chuansu, President of the China National Committee on Ageing, Dr. Suzuki Yasuhiro, Section Chief, Bureau of Health Care for the Elderly, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan), Mr. Motomu Hozumi, Mayor of Akita City, and the recently
appointed Director, Department of Ageing and Lifecourse (World Health
Organization) Dr John Beard.
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Registration for this event is still open, but get your registration in early! Find out how to register here.
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How's Your Macula?
Introducing the Macular Degeneration (MD) Foundation (Australia)
 The Macular Degeneration Foundation (Australia) is a national charity based in Sydney, committed to working on behalf of the entire Australian Macular Degeneration community,
specifically those with the disease, their family and carers. The Foundation was established in 2001 and has grown
dramatically to meet its mission and fulfil its objectives, with great support from Australian media icon and well known identity Ita Buttrose, who's father had MD.
 The MD Foundation's mission is to reduce the incidence and impact
of MD in Australia through events, activities and programs based around five key
objectives:
Education: Australia-wide education sessions with the
public, community organisations, and eye health professionals.
Awareness: Conducting an annual MD Awareness Week with
a massive direct mail campaign to health care professionals and pharmacies along with an extensive media campaign with the message "Have
your eyes tested and make sure the macula is checked".
Client Services: Producing numerous publications including the AMD information
booklet, as well as telephone
support, a comprehensive website and a reading program using digital technology
(to enable vision impaired to access books, newspapers and information through
their local library).
Representation: Advocating for the interests of the MD community for treatments,
rehabilitation and support for family and carers.
Research: Supporting and pursuing research, including an annual major
project - Project Vision - to ascertain the needs, experiences and knowledge of
the disease as a basis for furthering the cause of the MD community.
2008 - 2009 have been especially productive years for the foundation. Highlights of
the MD Foundation's Special Projects include a highly successful Australia-wide
TV and print campaign specifically targeting MD awareness (increasing the number of Australians familar with MD by 42%), which
elevated the MDF to a world leader in MD awareness. The Keep on Driving - Safely initiative launched in New South Wales in 2009, which will see the insertion of an MD brochure into every NSW driver licence
renewal over the next five years (a total of 5 million insertions). The Vision
Van is a joint initiative of the MD Foundation,
RANZCO, OAA and Novartis. The mobile information centre visited 37
metro and regional areas screening specifically for MD. It is presently on the road again in 2009.
 Finally, the Eating for Eye Health Cookbook was released as part of the 2009 Macular Degeneration
Awareness Week. The Foundation partnered with
Australian media icon and patron Ita Buttrose, and
leading Sydney chef, Vanessa Jones, to produce the first ever Eating for Eye Health cookbook in
Australia. It provides breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack ideas using eye
health friendly foods, as well as important information on nutrients essential
for eye health. The cookbook is available from the MD Foundation.
To find out more about the MD Foundation (Australia), please visit the website here. And remember, how is your macula?...
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In the next edition of IFA-eNews:
Update on IFAs 10th Global Conference on Ageing
Full Report on the Expert Group Meeting in Bonn on the Rights of Older Persons
Williamsburg - An Age Friendly Village within a City
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Harmony for Silvers Foundation of India
IFA Secretary General Dr. Jane Barratt becomes regular contributor The IFA is proud to announce that Secretary General Dr. Jane
Barratt is a regular contributor to the Harmony Magazine, the
monthly publication of the Harmony for Silvers Foundation of India. Founded in 2004, Harmony India
is a national NGO working to enhance the quality of life of the elderly in India. Harmony Magazine is one of its key tools used
to communicate and promote an environment where older people, irrespective of their
cultural beliefs, retain their dignity, self-respect, pride and self-confidence.
Please find more information about Harmony Magazine online
here.  Dr. Barratt's first article for Harmony Magazine,
entitled 'One people, one voice' which is available online calls for older people to voice their
needs and expectations. She highlights inspiring examples from Canada,
Kyrgyzstan, and New Zealand where older people have participated in initiatives to have their voices heard. You can read the entire article here. |
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Members adopt new
declaration at the 2009 General Assembly
On May 11, the AGE General Assembly in Brussels called for a ban on mandatory
retirement ages, the establishment of European quality standards for long term
care, and an officially recognized European Union Year on active ageing and
intergenerational solidarity for 2012. Members
agreed to a new Declaration outlining the directions AGE will take in
formulating its recommendations on pensions reforms, employment, social
inclusion, health and long-term care, active civic participation and older
people in emergency situations over the coming years.
AGE believes that enhancing intergenerational solidarity and
cooperation are key to reacting constructively to today's rapidly evolving
social and demographic context. Further, the deteriorating economic situation
and climate change add dimensions to this challenge. A more
inclusive approach with positive attitudes and expectations of older
citizens' contributions needs to be developed and actively
promoted in all social and economic policy responses. People of all ages have a
vital role to play in contributing to society and building a strong Europe.
Facilitating a constructive co-existence in which the
strengths and capacities of people of all ages can be shared for mutual benefit
is central to this direction and forms a common thread throughout the AGE General
Assembly 2009 Declaration, which can be accessed here. For more details, please contact the AGE Secretariat
at: info@age-platform.org, or visit the AGE
website here.
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Age Demands Action - Getting Older People Included in Development Policy
Global Petition from
HelpAge International
By 2050 there will be more people over the age of 60 years than under 14 years of age. Eighty percent of the older cohort will be living in developing countries. Action is needed today if older people are to live dignified, active,
healthy and secure lives. Launched to correspond with the International Day of Older People in 2008, HelpAge International established an online petition to call on governments and the international
community to actively include older people in development policies.
 The purpose of this petition is to encourage governments across the world to actively include older people in development. At the national level, this means older people being included in policies on poverty, health and fighting discrimination. At the global level, this means governments who donate international aid should include older people in their development strategies. HelpAge International invites you to sign the petition today and support the campaign with your voice.
Click here to sign the petition today.
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Notice to IFA Members
Announcement of the IFA Annual Meeting 2009
The Annual Meeting of the International Federation on Ageing will be held at:
Castle Hotel, Akita
Nakadori Akita-city, 1-3-5
Akita Prefecture, Akita, Japan
Friday 9th October 2009 - Commencing at 10:00am
 The Annual Meeting will take place Friday, October 9 in Akita, Japan. In accordance with the By-Laws of the International
Federation on Ageing the provisional agenda for the Annual Meeting is sent to
members of the organisation. Members are invited to propose amendments to
the provisional agenda by 31 July 2009 by writing (letter, fax, email) to the
President, c/o Secretary General at the IFA headquarters. Please access the Provisional Agenda here.
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News from AMD Alliance International
Portraits by artist Adam Hahn featured on the cover of the Canadian Journal of Optometry
 The IFA extends our congratulations to AMD (Age Related Macular Degeneration) Alliance International, and artist Adam Hahn for making the cover of the Canadian Journal of Optometry (CJO) for March 2009. The image on the cover of the CJO is that of 'Douglas', one of a number of portraits manipulated by Hahn to depict people with macular disease as seen through their own eyes. The painter worked with the Macular Disease Society in the United Kingdom to identify persons prepared to participate in this stunning reflection. We are also proud to acknowledge Don Curran, AMD Alliance International's Immediate Past Chair,
who agreed to participate in this process.
 The journal feature is a great honour for all involved, but most importantly helps bring important attention to Age Related Macular Degeneration. For more information about the work of Adam Hahn and AMD Alliance International, please read this article.
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Call for Nominations:
The Position of IFA
Director
The IFA is now accepting nominations for the position of
Director. Individual members in good standing or persons representing
organisational members in good standing can make a nomination. The IFA
Nomination Committee welcomes informal enquiries about the role of Directors or
practical information about nominations and the process.  The announcement
document is available here. Please
contact Jane Barratt at jbarratt@ifa-fiv.org
to make an informal enquiry.
All persons accepting the nomination must complete the Statement of Candidacy form and include an appropriate biography which may be circulated to all full
IFA members. Closing date for nominations is the 31st July 2009, by which
time all the relevant information must have been received. |
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"Design for
Ageing Well"
Collaborative Project
Launched in the United
Kingdom
On April 28th, the University of Wales, Newport
(UWN) hosted the launch of a collaborative three year design project called
'Design for Ageing Well - Improving Quality of Life for the Ageing Population
Using a Technology Enabled Garment System'.
Led by Principle Investigator Jane McCann of the Smart Clothes and
Wearable Technology Research Centre at UWN, the project aims to investigate the
application of smart textiles in a clothing 'layering system' that promotes
optimal and safe exercise that enhances the wellbeing and quality of life of the
active ageing.
Textile
technologies have not sufficiently met the design requirements of older people
in terms of specific human attributes such as fit, posture, thermal regulation,
moisture management, protection and the psychological 'feel good factor'. However, the world could be on the cusp of new
industrial breakthroughs if textile and electronics technologies merged and
developed a common language and vision. Through
the Design for Ageing Well project, a cross-disciplinary team of researchers
will develop and apply a new product design oriented process, driven by
end-user needs, for the development of smart clothing and wearable
technologies. Ultimately, a new
generation of monitoring and feedback devices that enhance the autonomy and
independence of a rapidly growing older market will be developed.
Collaboration
includes academia, industry, consultants and user-groups. For more information on this project, please
read the Project Background Document here, or contact Ms. Jen East,
Administrator at the Smart Clothes and Wearable Technology Research Centre.
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News from the World Demographic Association
Preview of the World Ageing & Generations Congress 2009
How
will current financial and economic turmoil affect the life of those over 60, who
constitute a third of the world population? What will be the effect on their
quality of life, especially in the developing world? How could their most
fundamental rights be strengthened and protected, and how could systemic
discrimination be prevented?
These are but a few of the
intricate and highly relevant questions to be addressed in St. Gallen, Switzerland, at the World Demographic Association's World Ageing & Generations Congress
2009 (September 3-5), which is aimed at a
broad audience interested in comprehensive examination of the effects and
consequences of the ever-increasing global population and a continuously ageing
society. The congress is therefore as much an educational as a mind-shifting
event - an international and interdisciplinary platform used by decision makers
from all spheres of society and by a general audience that is fascinated,
intrigued, and concerned about the consequences of global demographic shifts.
An impressive group of keynote speakers for this event includes Louise Arbour, President (elect), International Crisis Group, former UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights; John Beard, Director, Department of Ageing and Life Course, World Health
Organisation; Robert Butler, President & Founder, International
Longevity Center, USA; and Jomo Sundaram, Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development, Department of
Economics and Social Affairs, United Nations, New York. To find out more about this event, please download the Preliminary Conference Programme, or visit the World Demographic Association's website.
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Joint Focus on Independent
Living
Stakeholder meeting
to help inform policy priorities in Wales
The Older People's Commissioner for Wales and the
Joseph Rowntree Foundation co-hosted a joint event on May 8 in Cardiff, Wales
investigating the importance of independent living and the key policy issues that impact
on older people's lives including care, housing, finance and dignity. Gwenda Thomas AM, Deputy Minister for Health
and Social Services, gave the opening address, and presentations throughout the
event were delivered from senior representatives from stakeholder organisations
across Wales.
For more information, please visit the Older People's Commissioner for Wales website here and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation website.
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Emergency Management: Taking a Health
Perspective
Exert from Health Canada's Health Policy
Research Bulletin
Taking a Health Perspective in Emergency Management is the
focus of the latest issue of Health Canada's Policy Research
Bulletin. This publication examines the
public health impacts of disasters, and the growing body of research drawn upon
to strengthen the capacity to prevent and/or reduce those impacts. The Bulletin highlights global and Canadian disaster trends, and notably contains several
articles focusing on issues important to older people and disasters. This includes an examination of the health
impacts of disasters on health care workers, seniors and the Canadian health
care system; meeting the needs of high-risk populations; and the potential
roles for the voluntary sector in assisting communities during an emergency.
The Health Policy Research Bulletin is produced by Health Canada, drawing together research from across Canada's federal
health portfolio as well as external partners, with the aim of strengthening
the evidence base for health policy decision making. You can read the Bulletin in its entirety here, and find information on all past issues here.
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Creating Creative
Futures
Creative Ageing
Symposium: June 12 2009, Edmonton,
Canada
 This one-day symposium will showcase various initiatives and
opportunities that are enhancing the depth and breadth of the field of arts and
aging. 'Creative Ageing' recognizes the vital contributions of the arts to
lifelong learning, creative expression, health and well-being in later life.
Participants will find this symposium an opportunity to explore
new ideas, develop skills, share information and discover opportunities for
collaboration and growth in relation to creative aging.  The symposium will feature inspiring presentations
on best practices, innovations, and research into creative ageing. Dr. Gene
Cohen, Director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington
University (on right), will discuss the
benefits of the arts, including how artistic engagement enhances the function
of the aging brain, as the lead keynote speaker.
The Creative Ageing Symposium is held in conjunction with
the Creative Age Festival
in Edmonton. Organizers welcome the attendance of individuals
from all professions and backgrounds with an interest in the areas of arts and
aging. The Pre-Registration deadline is June 8th, and the
poster abstracts deadline is May 25th. For more information about the symposium
program, call for posters, and registration - please visit the symposium's website here.
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Sincerely yours,
The International Federation on Ageing |
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