The Bahamas will be one of many global countries taking a stand against ageism when it joins forces with other United Nations Member States to commemorate International Day of Older Persons and Older Persons Month in October.
Ageism manifests itself in both individual and institutional behaviours such as overlooking older persons for employment, stereotyping them, and generally excluding older persons from decision-making in their communities.
Ageism also affects older persons by diminishing self-worth in some cases while increasing the risk of depression, and has its roots in attitudes that view older persons as in decline, dependent, a burden and a drain, and results in practices that marginalize them often both in the workplace and at home.
“As a country we strongly urge everyone to honour the longevity, leadership and experience of older persons. They deserve respect,” Minister of Social Services and Community Development, the Hon. Melanie Sharon Griffin said at her recent launch of Older Persons Month at the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development.
“In celebrating their accomplishments and invaluable contributions to the overall development of our country – past and continuing – we must ensure, through inter-generational dialogue and collaboration – that instead of repeating historic shortcomings and failures -- we attain loftier heights, unattainable by the vitality of youth alone.
“Societies around the world must adapt to this momentous change in the make-up of their populations,” Mrs. Griffin added.
United Nations statistics estimate that approximately 600 million persons worldwide are currently aged 60 years and over. This number is expected to more than triple to approximately 2 billion persons by 2025.
“The statistics are staggering,” Minister of Social Services and Community Development, the Hon. Melanie Sharon Griffin said.
“While we do have a large, younger population, we also have an ever-growing older population many of whom are retiring at the young age of 60 and still have contributions to make, still have the same life challenges to face as their younger counterparts, such as bills to pay, etcetera, and some even find themselves at a great disadvantage and so we must deal with both sides of the population.”
Mrs. Griffin said the United Nations data provides leaders with an opportunity to be proactive in addressing many of the concerns that come along with an ageing population and ageism.
Minister Griffin said the importance of taking a stand against ageism (the theme for International Day of Older Persons 2016) was further highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO) which adopted the Global Strategy and Action Plan on Aging and Health (2016-2020) at its 69th World Health Assembly, 2016.
The Strategy (2016 – 2020) has two goals: five years of evidence-based action to maximize functional ability that reaches every person; and by 2020, establish evidence and partnerships necessary to support a Decade of Healthy Aging from 2020 to 2030.
Specifically, the Strategy focuses on five objectives: commitment to action on Healthy Aging in every country; developing age-friendly environments; aligning health systems to the needs of older populations; developing sustainable and equitable systems for providing long-term care (home, communities, institutions); and improving measurement, monitoring and research on Healthy Aging.
“In this Strategy and Action Plan, the Director-General of the WHO is called upon to head a global campaign to combat ageism and to support local and international partners in their efforts to change policies and practices,” Mrs. Griffin said.
“As we observe Older Persons Month and International Day of Older Persons (Saturday, October 1), we echo the sentiments of the United Nations to identify and question ageist attitudes: to understand the serious nature of its impact, and to reverse the same by responsive, caring, comprehensive and sustainable solutions.
“We have so many persons, so many elderly persons, who have so much to offer. While they may not be able to hold down jobs depending on their ages, they have a contribution to make in terms of their experiences, in terms of the work that they have done in this country, and so I think this is the right time,” Mrs. Griffin added.
By Matt Maura
Bahamas Information Services
