This is the second World Senior Citizen's Day (21 August; since 1991) that is being observed amid the hard and testing time of the COVID-19 that underwent the deadly second wave of the pandemic in 2021.
According to medical experts and social scientists, COVID-19 pandemic has affected adversely the elderly people in many ways. If one has a deeper look, the pandemic has increased the elder abuse, women abuse and child abuse to make elderly people most venerable. The well-being and social support required through aging process has further waned for the last two years.
According to the WHO some the Key facts regarding aging population are as follows:
-Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22%.
-The number of people aged 60 years and older has outnumber children younger than 5 years.
-In 2050, 80% of older people will be living in low- and middle-income countries.
The pace of population ageing is much faster than in the past.
Consequently, all countries in the world are facing 'major challenges to ensure that their health and social systems are ready to make the most of this demographic shift,' reports the WHO. "A significant proportion of the diversity in older age is due to the cumulative impact of these health inequities across the life course. Public health policy must be crafted to reduce, rather than reinforce, these inequities," it adds on its website.
WHO has suggested a five-pronged global strategy to deal with aging population consisting of commitment to healthy ageing; aligning health systems with the needs of older populations; developing systems for providing long-term care; creating age-friendly environments along with improving measurement and monitoring and understanding about aging.
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