ISSUES:

While longevity increases, those who are living longer are at risk from a lower quality of life. A poor quality of life might refer to issues with health, social isolation, economic restraints or a number of other problems.

While longer life expectancy is a good thing, it is important to ensure that as longevity increases older people are not living in discomfort or poverty. A measure of an older person’s quality of life will ensure not only a longer life, but a longer, better life.

News

In partnership with ILC-UK, the ILC Europe Network hosted its inaugural conference in Brussels on 6 March 2024 to explore the challenges and opportunities associated with an ageing European society. Other ILC Global Alliance members in attendance included ILC-Czech Republic, ILC-France and ILC-Netherlands.

With contributions from 21 authors, the book "Prevention of frailty among older persons in Japan: A community-wide approach" reflects the decades of first-hand experience of Prof. Tsujii, a former senior official at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

See ageing as a source of power instead of as a sign of decline and vulnerability, is the message of the newly published book “Silver Empowerment”, in which scientists from various disciplines discuss ways of improving self-reliance of elderly people. Promoting an age-friendly society is the main topic.

Zaiya Takahashi and Masako Osako gave a presentation, “Japanese traditional/contemporary views of life and death ('Shiseikan') and their implications for the end-of-life care”, at IAGG Asia Conference in Yokohama, Japan.

Dr. Linda P. Fried, the Director of the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center and the Dean of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, delivered an Expert Reflection at the event titled "The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing: Health for All by Adding Life to Years." She spoke in her capacity as the Co-chair of the US National Academy of Medicine’s Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity Commission.

Ms. Masako Osako, Executive Director of ILC Global Alliance Secretariat, recently sat down with Ms. Keiko Higuchi, President (rijicho) of a Japan-based NPO, Women's Association for the Better Aging Society (WABAS) and a leading social commentator and popular author in Japan. At 90 years old, Higuchi has recently published a new book titled, “Hold on! I am still alive and thriving at age 90,” which is a sequel to her enormously popular book published in 2019, “Ready, set, go! You are now becoming an “old-old person.”

This report shows the real life of older adults in Japan. Their labour participation rate, financial assets, relationships with neighbours are described first, and then systems such as pension, medical and long-term care are being explained with numbers and figures.

We interviewed two older Japanese women who had moved from Tokyo to Izu Highland, a popular retreat for city dwellers, to build their private house and restaurant. They contribute to building a community by serving lunch and delivering meals to local residents.

On May 10, 2022, the conference ‘Enjoying Life Approach on location' took place in Arnhem (in the Netherlands), as a completion of the eponymous project.

The Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) recently put a magnifying glass on elderly care in four countries: Japan, England, Germany and Denmark. One of the researchers is Tineke Abma, professor of Participation of Older People at the Leiden Medical University Centre and Executive-Director of Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing. What lessons can be learned from this research?

On the occasion of the next presidential election in France (April 10 and 24, 2022), ILC-France is sending candidates a list of recommendations on societal issues related to a longevity in health and in activity.

With support from the World Health Organization (WHO), a civil society mapping and engagement initiative has been launched to identify and unite the powerful and unique voices of organisations across a wide range of sectors and disciplines toward a common agenda.

The ageing process starts before we are born. This article explains what happens in our bodies over time and how we can embrace our later years.

ILC-Japan has compiled the results of interviews with older adults in Japan conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

From 6 May to 11 June 2021, the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center and the Columbia School of Journalism hosted the Robert N. Butler–Jack Rosenthal Age Boom Academy: "Combatting Loneliness in Aging: Toward a 21st Century Blueprint for Societal Connectedness" online.

As part of their Delivering prevention in an ageing world programme, ILC-UK are asking for input on how we can deliver prevention in an ageing world.

A new global project titled "Re-imagining Environments for Connection and Engagement: Testing Actions for Social Prescribing in Natural Spaces" (RECETAS) will address the loneliness created by the COVID-19 pandemic through interaction with nature in six cities in Europe, Latin America, and Australia.

A new project, titled: “PERMANENTO – everyday functional exercise for older adults” is designed to help older adults to maintain the fundamental components of functional fitness. The main goal is to contribute to a broader perception of physical activity, especially its effects on the ageing processes and quality of life.

Professor Julie Byles, Head of ILC-Australia presents on ‘Healthy Ageing at very old ages – perspectives of women from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, at the 53rd Annual Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) Conference in 2020.

On the last day of 2020, the 300th story milestone was accomplished and published on Wij & corona (translated into Us & corona). On this Dutch story platform experiences of older people during these trying corona times are shared. With this we give the voice of seniors a stage and support and inspire each other! For example, Willem (71) tells how he tries to stay fit at home and Maarten (77), who is a heart patient and must be extra careful.

Following a meeting of its members on Thursday, 7 May 2020, the ILC Global Alliance has prepared a Position Statement on COVID-19.

The Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing and ILC-Netherlands research project focusses on the impact, measures and restrictions of the corona virus on the senior population. The project intends to focus on how a diverse group of seniors (aged 60+) experience the virus and the measures taken. How do they perceive the risks and how does is impact their daily lives?

What value does art (such as dance, drawing, music, song, poetry, theatre etc.) have on an individual, social and societal level? With the two-year research 'Art for Senior Positive Health and Well-Being. Capturing the Impact of Art-based Initiatives and Programmes' Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing and Amsterdam UMC look into the value of art in long-term care by describing existing art initiatives in care, evaluating the impact and looking for the underlying working principles.

Incontinence – a public health issue to be dealt with using a life-course approach

On International Women's Day, Rosy Pereyra, President of ILC-Dominican Republic was awarded with the Medal of Merit, the highest honour that the Dominican Government gives to women.

On October 19 and 20, ILC-BR hosted the 5th International Longevity Forum in Rio de Janeiro. This year’s theme was the construction of resilience along the life course; a very timely topic given the ongoing crisis in Brazil.

On October 5, ILC-BR organized a seminar to discuss the importance of vaccination across all ages. The seminar was held at Iamspe, the Institute for Medical Assistance for Public Servants of the State of Sao Paulo.

On October 6 and 7, 2016, the International Longevity Centre Brazil (ILC-Brazil) held the 4th International Longevity Forum with Bradesco Seguros being the main sponsor. The Forum also counts on the support of Galderma and other institutional partners (SBGG, UnATi/UERJ and the Global Alliance of ILCs).

El Dia, one of the most read newspapers of the Dominican Republic invited Dr. Rosy Pereyra, President of ILC-DR, Vice President of INPEA and one of the pioneers of geriatrics in the country, to talk about the situation of older adults in a space denominated Colloquium of El Dia to which every week an important person of the Dominican society is invited.

The International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics and Hong Kong Association of Gerontology will be holding the “Gary Andrews Academy Workshop on Social Policy for the Aged” on 25-26th February, 2016 (Thursday & Friday) at the Hong Kong Association of Gerontology.

The International Longevity Centre-India (ILC-I) is the Satellite Centre of the United Nations’ International Institute on Ageing, Malta for the SAARC region.

Last week, members of the ILC Global Alliance participated in a series of events organized by the International Longevity Centre – Brazil.

The International Longevity Centre-India (ILC-I) organized a Mini Walkathon of senior citizens to mark the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on the 15th of June 2014 in Pune.

Launch of the Global Plan on 11th May 2011.

Reports
Protecting the human rights of older persons: Challenges to the human rights of older people during and after COVID-19

Globally, COVID-19 has led to debilitating effects and posed significant human rights challenges for older persons.

This Discussion Paper collates the findings of 10 ILCs within the ILC Global Alliance on the subject of housing for older people.

This monograph has been produced by the Centre of Expertise in Longevity and Long-term Care (Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Prague), International Longevity Centre-Czech Republic.

Older people aren’t always getting the most from their retirement savings, according to a new report, by Jackie Wells for the ILC-UK.

The purpose of this ILC-USA report is to gain an understanding and encourage further research on the importance of satisfaction and well-being for older adults making transitions in their residential living arrangements.

The study examined a groundbreaking program designed to reduce elder abuse and neglect.

An ILC-UK collection of expert essays exploring how the 'lifetime neighbourhoods agenda' for housing and the built environment can respond to the economic downturn.

In a new publication, Global Aging Report: Threats to Longevity, the ILC Global Alliance outlines the urgent need for the global community to work together to combat the increasing threats to longevity around the world.

This ILC-France report describes demographic data and examines the causes of the increase in longevity and implications on working lives.

The books examine positive aspects of and successful adaptations to aging and focus on challenges and concerns for families, policy makers, and governments in caregiving and end-of-life issues.

In a super-aging society Japan it is predicted that people aged 75 or older living alone and elderly couple-only households will go on increasing.

ILC-India launch new book on Ageing and Spirituality

This ILC-UK policy brief is the third and final publication of a series focusing on policies addressing obesity in the UK.

the international Longevity Centre- India has come out with this book to understand this global phenomenon of 'ageing' and its implications in the right spirit and perspective.

Two of the most challenging public heath problems that account for significant morbidity and mortality are smoking and obesity. Over the last 20 years, while smoking prevalence rates have declined, obesity rates have increased sharply.

The increasing proportion of very old people in the population means that how to 'age well', even in later old age, is now an important issue for policymakers and researchers, as well as for older people themselves.