Themes and Sub-themes

1. Older Persons and Development

• 1a. Work and the ageing labour force

  Work and the Ageing Labour Force

  The basic premise for this subtheme is that older persons should be enabled to continue with income-generating work for as long as they want and for as long as they are able to do so productively. On the one hand there is a need to increase awareness in the workplace of the benefits of maintaining an ageing work force. On the other in developing countries and countries with economies in transition an informal economy often deprives older people of the basic benefits of adequate working conditions and social protection provided by the formal sector economy. We are interested in abstracts on: policies that extend employability; factors affecting older women in the labour market; the balance between employment of older workers and labour market opportunities for younger persons; promising practices in the informal economy; and adjustments in the workplace environment and conditions to ensure that older workers have skills, health and capacity to remain employed into their later years.

• 1b. Access to knowledge, education and training

  Access to Knowledge, Education and Training

  Education is crucial basis for an active and fulfilling life and yet without good policies lifelong access to education and training is not assured. In all countries lifelong education and training is a prerequisite for the participation of older persons in employment. The challenge is somewhat different and greater in developing countries where a large number of persons reaching old age have minimal literacy and numeracy. Areas of special interest for this conference include examples of good workplace policies where a diverse age distribution creates an environment where individuals can share skills, knowledge and experience; the value of education or training in technological change which combats alienation of older people; promising practice to respond to older adult illiteracy; and training, retraining and education as determinants of one’s ability to perform and adapt to workplace changes.

• 1c. Income security, social protection/social security and poverty prevention

  Income security, social protection/social security and poverty prevention

  This sub-theme aims to highlight and thereby promote programmes that enable all workers to acquire basic social protection/social security, including where applicable, pensions, disability insurance and health benefits. Income security and social protection/social security measures, whether contributory or not, include informal as well as highly structured schemes are part of a foundation for economic prosperity and social cohesion. Sustainability in the provision of adequate income security is of great importance especially in developing countries which has a limited coverage of formal systems of social protection and social security system. In countries with economies in transition, economic transformations have impoverished whole segments of the population, in particular older persons and many families with children. Of special interest is the appropriate social protection/social security measures required to address the feminization of poverty, in particular among older women. We are especially interested in attracting submissions that describe evidence-based programs that have demonstrated across time changes in the lives of citizens and communities.

2. Advancing Health and Well-being into Old Age

• 2a. Health promotion and well-being throughout life

  Health promotion and well-being throughout life

  The leading causes of disease, disability and mortality in older persons can be alleviated through health promotion and disease prevention measures that focus, inter alia, on nutrition, physical activity and cessation of smoking. Health promotion activities and equal access of older persons to health care and services that include disease prevention throughout life is the cornerstone of healthy ageing. In this sub-theme we are especially interested in receiving abstracts that deepen our understanding of factors that influence the health of older people including environmental, economic and social determinants. Building upon our previous events submissions that focus on climate, change age-friendly environments (cities and communities) and malnutrition and poor nutrition are sought after.

• 2b. Universal and equal access to health-care services

  Universal and equal access to health-care services

  A continuum of care ranging from health promotion and disease prevention to the provision of primary, acute, rehabilitation and community care for older persons is a gold standard of services which is unattainable by the majority of older people. Governments have the primary responsibility for setting and monitoring standards of health care as well as providing health care for all ages. Partnerships among governments and non-governmental, community based organizations and the private sector constitute valuable contributions to the services and the care for older persons as do those services provided by families. In this sub-theme submissions that provide examples of good policy and practice will provide a forum for discussion on the elements which are transferable across culture, socio-economic status and gender. We also wish to recognize the gravity of the public health problems afflicting many developing countries and least developed countries, especially those resulting from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other epidemics and welcome papers on these subjects.

• 2c. Mental health needs of older persons

  Mental health needs of older persons

  Comprehensive mental health-care services ranging from prevention to early intervention, the provision of treatment services and the management of mental health problems in older persons is sadly lacking in most countries. Various losses and life changes can often lead to an array of mental health disorders, which, if not properly diagnosed, can lead to inappropriate treatment, or no treatment, and/or clinically unnecessary institutionalization. Strategies to cope with such diseases include medication, psychosocial support, cognitive training programmes, training for caring family members and caring staff and specific structures of inpatient care. We are especially interested in attracting submissions that highlight good policies and practices in the provision of mental health services; and the broad range of issues and responses around the increasing prevalence of dementia related conditions. In addition submissions that focus on the 2011 United Nations High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases, the World Alzheimer’s Report (2011) Global Report or associated response are of particular interest.

3. Ensuring Enabling and Supportive Environments

• 3a. Housing and the living environment

  Housing and the living environment

  Good housing and the surrounding environment can promote good health and well-being. It is also important that older persons are provided, where possible, with an adequate choice of where they live, a factor that needs to be built into policies and programmes. Associated factors include: accessibility and safety; the financial burden of maintaining a home; and the emotional and psychological security of a home. In some countries rapid demographic ageing is taking place in a context of continuing urbanization which gives rise to a lack affordable housing and services. Also a large number of persons are ageing in isolation in rural areas, rather than in the traditional environment of an extended family. Poor planning and implementation of responsive transportation systems also gives rise to older people being more isolated and marginalised. ‘Shelter’ is a fundamental pillar to well-being. Submissions that describe societal changes as a result of the evolution of housing and the impact of the environment are of special interest as are examples of good practice in intergenerational, cooperative and affordable housing.

• 3b. Care and support for caregivers

  Care and support for caregivers

  The shape and form of family is changing as a consequence of globalisation, urbanisation and population ageing. Traditional cultural practices of family care are challenged by an increasing life expectancy often associated with chronic disabling conditions of a loved one. Initiatives for family caregiving are driven by public authorities and non-governmental organisations and also by employers and service providers. At a policy level there is growing reference of the contribution of ‘carers’ and their economic value yet active support measures are only now emerging. New policy documents on demographic change, employment and long-term care are making reference to the need to support carers which includes a focus on care as well as prevention and early diagnosis of conditions such as dementia. Not to be taken out of the limelight many older persons in developing countries find themselves with the unexpected responsibility of caring for frail children or with the task of becoming sole parents to grandchildren. While we welcome all abstracts on the subject of family caregiving, those that describe innovative programs, responsive policies and transferable interventions are of special interest.

• 3c. Neglect, abuse and violence

  Neglect, abuse and violence

  Neglect, abuse and violence against older persons take many forms and unacceptably occurs in every social, economic, ethnic and geographic sphere. The process of ageing brings with it a declining ability to heal, so that older victims of abuse may never fully recover physically or emotionally from trauma. Older women face a greater risk of physical and psychological abuse due to discriminatory societal attitudes and the non-realization of the human rights of women. Some harmful traditional and customary practices result in abuse and violence directed at older women, often exacerbated by poverty and lack of access to legal protection. Despite the development of laws and policies to prevent elder abuse this unacceptable practice continues to increase in numbers and gravity. In support of abolishing elder abuse we call on substantive bodies of work relating to emerging trends, good policy and effective practice to be presented throughout this conference. The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) will play a prominent role in this sub-theme through the “kick-off’ symposium and pre-conference event.

4. Connected Technologies

• 4a. Connecting services and providers – e-health, telehealth, telepresence and flips!

  Connecting services and providers – e-health, telehealth, telepresence and flips!

  Health systems work reasonably well if people have acute medical problems that can be resolved through one-off medical interventions. Yet the needs of people living with chronic diseases, people with multiple complex health and social problems, and older, increasingly frail people are less well met. When the balance and organisation of services are considered, it is reasonable to suggest that health systems are not being designed around the needs of people with more complex and long-term health problems. Revolutions in products, services and information have occurred everywhere. They have redefined – and improved – how we live, work and play. It is about harnessing the power of information and technology to improve patient care, safety and access that is of interest. This sub-theme is about the ways in which technology connects services to consumers and providers to providers. Submissions that provide examples of the potential for technology to enhance health care for older people are especially welcome.

• 4b. Engaging generations – tweets, blogs, social networks and the digital divide

  Engaging generations – tweets, blogs, social networks and the digital divide

  Digital media and technology is evolving at a breath taking rate. There is a risk with the rate of change that the divide between past generations and 21st Century youth culture will widen. Cell phones, internet, mobile devices, text messaging, social media and video are all potential vehicles to connect generations and bridge the cultural expectations. Social networks as a ‘connector’ to friends, to family, to businesses does not discriminate on the basis of gender, or age, or race or religion yet the time is now to examine the positives as well as the negatives to digital media. Engaging older adults with information technology is but a small element of the global conversation we are hoping to stimulate through this sub-theme. Of particular interest are submissions that describe evidence based models of engagement across generations and critical analysis of the digital divide.

• 4c. Enabling older people – assistive technology, devices and products

  Enabling older people – assistive technology, devices and products

  Access to assistive technology (AT), products and devices is often seen as a cost-effective means of maintaining and enabling the independence, health and wellbeing of a growing ageing population. In some cases AT is seen as a substitute for care. The promotion of independence using AT relies on an increasingly wide range of devices which cover an equally wide range of individual situations. From scooters to aid mobility to a device to turn off the gas if someone forgets products are now more sophisticated although there are concerns over user accessibility and costs in many countries of the world. A constantly changing range of assistive and adaptive products and services in the market place means that understanding what is on offer and its appropriateness is increasingly complex. This sub-theme is not about widgets and gadgets but rather positioned to gain a deeper understanding of effective use of AT, the proper support for older people in its use, and how older people have been involved in its design and application.