The journey to age equality

THE EDITOR: For so long we have heard the woes and cries of the elder in society – social crimes of being neglected and victimised.

Older people have always played a significant role in society as leaders, caretakers and custodians of tradition. Yet they are also highly vulnerable, with many falling into poverty, becoming disabled or facing discrimination.

As healthcare improves, the population of older people is growing. Their needs are also growing, as are their contributions to the world.

The International Day of Older Persons, internationally recognised on October 1, is an opportunity to highlight the important contributions that older people make to society and to raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges of ageing in today’s world.

The 2019 theme, “The Journey to Age Equality,” aims to:

• Draw attention to the existence of old age inequalities and how these often result from a cumulation of disadvantages throughout life, and highlight intergenerational risk of increased old age inequalities.

• Bring awareness to the urgency of coping with existing – and preventing future – old age inequalities.

• Explore societal and structural changes in view of life course policies: life-long learning, proactive and adaptive labour policies, social protection and universal health coverage.

• Reflect on best practices, lessons and progress on the journey to ending old age inequalities and changing negative narratives and stereotypes involving “old age.”

The 2019 theme is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 10 (SDG 10) and focuses on pathways of coping with existing – and preventing future – old age inequalities.

SDG 10 aims to reduce inequality within – and among – countries, and to “ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome,” including through measures to eliminate discrimination, and to “empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.”

Between 2017 and 2030, the number of people aged 60 years or over is projected to grow by 46 per cent (from 962 million to 1.4 billion) globally, outnumbering youth as well as children under the age of ten. Moreover, this increase will be the greatest and most rapid in the developing world. Population ageing is poised to become one of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century.

Often, disparities in old age reflect an accumulated disadvantage characterised by factors such as: location, gender, socio-economic status, health and income.

In this regard, trends of ageing and economic inequality interact across generations and rapid population ageing, demographic and societal or structural changes alone can exacerbate old age inequalities, thereby limiting economic growth and social cohesion.

The TT Association of Retired Persons (known as TTARP... an Association of Responsible Persons) is the premier representative of senior citizens locally with over 40,000 members age 50 and over. Registered since 1993, our aims are:

• To enhance the quality of life of mature citizens;

• To promote their independence, dignity and purpose;

• To lead in determining their role in society; and

• To improve the image of their golden years.

To achieve these goals, TTARP has designed a number of programmes/benefits which make becoming a member very advantageous to people qualifying: discounts by hundreds of merchants, wide array of social activities, medical and insurance benefits, representation on national issues, and subscription to TTARP’s O50Q magazine.

More importantly, it has led to stronger TTARP advocacy to the Government, resulting in changes to national policy for the benefit of senior citizens.

In 1993, TTARP was officially registered as an NGO and was launched in the Humming Bird Room of the Hilton Trinidad and under the guidance and leadership of its president, Peter Pena, the organisation has shown significant growth in membership numbers – from 20,000 in 2010 to 40,000 plus in 2019.

The board, the zonal executives, staff, volunteers and members look forward to the continued growth of the association and salute the International Day of Older Persons as an opportunity to further highlight the important contributions that older people make to society and raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges of ageing in today’s world.

(Excerpts taken from www.un.org)

MAYLING YOUNGLAO

honorary secretary, TTARP