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Local community practices to improve healthy aging in the North
25-26Views:109The governments of Finland, Denmark, Norway and Russia have developed national programs to address population ageing. There are also successful practices in healthy ageing at the local level in different countries, but they remain unknown among the global professional community and governmental authorities.
Healthy ageing has become an important policy issue at all levels of the society. The key international document is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) plan for a Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020–2030 which is the second action plan of the WHO ‘s Global strategy on ageing and health. The Plan consists of 10 years of concerted, catalytic, sustained collaboration to improve the lives of older people, their families, and their communities. Older people themselves are in the core of this plan, and it brings together variety of actors, including governments, civil society, international agencies, professionals, academia, the media, and the private sector. The Plan also notes that healthy ageing is not only a healthcare issue but also needs to engage many other sectors.
The aim of research was to search and introduce local community practices according the priority areas of WHO Decade of Healthy Aging action plan for gerontological policy in arctic countries.
Examples of good practices for the Priority 1 of the Plan: Change how we think, feel and act towards age and ageing
Fostering of Healthy Ageing requires fundamental shifts from existing stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination towards older people. Older people should not be seen only as an economic burden for the welfare society, but as contributors to the state and communities, and as resourceful carriers of traditional values and wisdom. Governments eliminate age discrimination by variety of actions, such as legislative changes, and policies and programs which engage older people in decision-making.
Initiatives for Priority 2 of the Plan: Ensure that communities foster the abilities of older people
The environments which are built on decisions made not only by policy makers but involve citizens of all ages are better places to grow, play, live, work and retire. Even those people who have lost their capacity, shall be able to continue to enjoy everyday activities, to continue to develop personally and professionally, to participate and contribute to their communities while retaining their autonomy, dignity, health, and well-being.
Practices for Priority 3 of the Plan: Deliver person-centered, integrated care and primary health services to older people
Good-quality essential health services include prevention of diseases; promotion of healthy lifestyle; curative, rehabilitative, palliative and end-of-life care; safe, effective, good-quality essential medicines and vaccines; dental care; assistive technologies, while ensuring that the use of services does not cause the user financial hardship.
Local northern practices are mirrored against the recently released WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020-2030 Action Plan with paying attention to indigenous elders. Based on these practices the national, regional, and municipal level authorities of the Nordic countries and Russia were suggested to consider the policy recommendations based of the research.
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Decade of Healthy Aging 2020-2030: international and local arctic context
30-31Views:44Healthy aging has become an important policy issue at all levels of the society. The key international document is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) plan for a Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020–2030 which is the 2nd action plan of the WHO ‘s Global strategy on aging and health [1]. The Plan consists of 10 years of concerted, catalytic, sustained collaboration to improve the lives of older people, their families, and their communities. Older people themselves are at the core of this plan, and it brings together a variety of actors: governments, civil society, international agencies, professionals, media, and the private sector. The Plan also notes that healthy aging is not only a healthcare issue but also needs to engage many other sectors.
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Contributing to the Decade of Healthy Aging in the Nordic-Russian Arctic
4Views:118NCM-funded project and expert network “Indigenous and non-indigenous residents of the Nordic-Russian region: Best practices for equity in healthy ageing” will be introduced.
The Arctic population is ageing, albeit at various speed across the regions and to a different degree of “healthiness” and “inequity related to healthy ageing” across the life-course. The aim of the research is to contribute to a multidisciplinary understanding of circumstances and patterns of healthy ageing in the Nordic-Russian Arctic and share examples of new solutions as components to the Arctic member states’ national policies and in accordance with the principles of WHO “Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020–2030”.
We will focus on a broad evaluation of opportunities the region can bring in to carry activities, building on the principles of the WHO Global Strategy on Ageing and Health, the United Nations Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, and aligned to the timing of the United Nations Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We will identify best practices at the regional/community levels among Non- and Indigenous older residents, using comparative approach: 1. How we think, feel and act towards age and ageing, 2.Communities fostering the abilities of older people, 3.Delivering culturally safe and person centred care and health services responsive to older people.
The project complements our on-going activities under the UArctic Thematic Network “Health and Well-being in the Arctic” and a “Development of a Think Tank Functions of the Northern Dimension Institute”.
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Social service delivery for senior citizens in rural Philippines and secrets to longevity of Apo Whang-od
2-14Views:400Access to social services such as healthcare, transportation, and financial support can be limited, leaving many elderly individuals vulnerable to poverty and social exclusion. This paper examined the recent elderly demographics, status of social service delivery, the roles of traditional and cultural practices, and specific challenges faced by older persons in rural areas, using the case of Apo Whang-od and her community, Buscalan that is in the municipality of Tinglayan, Province of Kalinga, Philippines. Using a mixed methods approach, this paper revealed that almost 11% of Tinglayan’s population is elderly, mostly indigenous people with a relatively low literacy rate, and low-income earners who are engaged mostly in subsistence farming and small-scale traditional craft making. Also, there are substantial government programs and services offered by existing laws; however, access to these is challenged by limited access to education and healthcare services, with long travel distances and a lack of transportation being major barriers. Financial difficulties were also observed, with no or few having access to social security benefits and reasonable amounts of pensions. The challenges can also be attributed to an unfavorable geographical location, conflicts with neighboring tribes, limited local government funds, lack of knowledge, and inadequate social service centers within the locality. Tinglayan’s cultural values were also found to play a pivotal role in supplementing the scarce social services by fostering a supportive atmosphere for the elderly. Analysing Apo-Whag-od's longevity, it was revealed that she lived a longer life because she ate organic and locally sourced food, slept well, laughed a lot, engaged in regular physical activity, nurtured her spiritual well-being, built strong relationships with her family and community, and kept a positive outlook. In conclusion, social demographics shows that elderlies in rural areas are disadvantaged, which calls for more efficient and effective access, delivery, and availability of social services. Moreover, policymakers are enjoined to accelerate social infrastructures, expand social protection programs, and support intergenerational solidarity and resilience and cultural preservation. Lastly, Apo Whang-od’s legacy lives on. Her popularity not only gained revitalization of the Kalinga tattoo culture, but it also inspired people to follow her steps to longer and happier way of life.