29/09/2024
UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF MAURITIUS – Senior Citizen Day 2024.
UNAMAURITIUS presents its warmest congratulations to all our elderly on the occasion of the International Day of the ELDERLY. The world of today has been built by our ELDERLY and needs to be recognized without any political partisans system, but by the global world.
In International Day Message, Secretary-General Calls for Stronger Care, Support Systems That Honour Dignity of Older Persons, Caregivers
Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for International Day of Older Persons — “Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide” — observed on 1 October:
As populations age, care and support systems are vital for older persons to continue actively engaging and enriching their communities.
Yet too often older persons do not have access to this crucial assistance, deepening inequalities and increasing their vulnerabilities. This disparity falls even heavier on women, including older women, who bear the brunt of providing unpaid care.
Recognizing the rights of both those who receive care and care givers is essential for more resilient societies. We must work to cultivate people-centred care systems that are sustainable and equitable, and they must amplify the voices of older persons by ensuring their participation in policymaking.
That requires investing in the infrastructure for formal long-term care, ensuring opportunities for decent work, and enabling individuals to transition from informal to formal care.
On this International Day of Older Persons, let’s commit to strengthen care and support systems that honour the dignity of older persons and caregivers.
https://www.un.org/en/observances/older-persons-day
The International Day of Older People is observed on October 1 each year. On December 14, 1990, the United Nations General Assembly voted to establish October 1 as the International Day of Older People as recorded in Resolution 45/106. The holiday was observed for the first time on October 1, 1991.
2024 Theme: Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide
Population ageing is a major global trend reshaping societies worldwide. Life expectancy at birth now exceeds 75 years in half of the world's countries, 25 years longer than in 1950. By 2030, older persons are projected to outnumber youth globally, with this increase most rapid in developing countries. This demographic shift has significantly transformed the caregiving landscape, encompassing a wide range of needs for both paid and unpaid support in formal and informal settings. As populations age, the demand for comprehensive healthcare, care, and social support services has grown substantially, particularly for older persons with conditions such as dementia. In recognition of these challenges and opportunities, the 34th commemoration of the United Nations International Day of Older Persons will focus on the theme of "Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide".
This year's event will bring together experts to discuss policies, legislation, and practices that strengthen care and support systems for older persons. It will highlight the urgent need to expand training and educational opportunities in geriatrics and gerontology, address the global shortage of care workers, and recognize the diverse contributions of caregivers. The commemoration will also emphasize the importance of protecting the human rights of both caregivers and care recipients, promoting person-centered approaches to care that respect the dignity, beliefs, needs, and privacy of older persons, and for the right to make decisions about their care and quality of their lives.