Global Ageing and NCDS

Richard BlewittCEO HelpAge International rblewitt@helpage.org

9 March 2012ADI International Conference London

Ageing is a megatrend

The future that’s here already

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Age trends by region

Greater health spend in old age (Source: WHO/GTZ)

Household healthcare expenditures in last 12 months relative to expenditures for all households (=100), by household type

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All HouseholdsNo members 60+1 member 60+2 members 60+

Who we work with – our focus on generational interdependence

Age Demands Action on NCDs

HelpAge Network94 Affiliates in 70 countries

From the local to the global, emphasis on partnership, voice and participation for change

Network actors are:

• Affiliates • Sisters • Partners• Strategic Allies• Regional and country

offices• London office

Types of network within the HelpAge Network:• Branch network• Part of network share visual identity• Learning and sharing network• Potential/actualised connections• Campaign and advocacy network• Good Practice network

Common challenges • Ageing seen as stigma - we fear ageing

• Dementia feared and still hidden and unrecognised

• Old age treated as a time of dependence and vulnerability

• Toleration of human rights abuse in old age and times of fragility

• Absence of old age specific rights instruments

• Ageing seen as ‘a problem’ by policy makers and citizens

• Persistent policy focus on children, the young and able-bodied obscures need for lifecourse and age-inclusive interventions

“Despite the weight of scientific evidence, the significance of population aging and its global implications have yet to be fully appreciated” U.S. Department of State March 2007

Action on health‘No Age Limit to good health’• Affordable and age appropriate health services• Support for social and informal care • Health system reforms to focus on NCDs• Funded access to services for older people

Power of Partnership With ADI, Global Coalition on Ageing , the NCD Alliance, AARP, ILC, Age UK, World Wide Palliative Care Alliance, HelpAge Affiliates in different regions

Joint action on NCD Political Declaration – results are: •Ageing recognised as a global driver of NCDs•Alzheimer's added as a key NCD challenge•Discriminatory language of "premature” death replaced with preventable morbidity•Social protection included as a key response •Awareness built with policy makers of ageing and NCDs •Action on NCDs to be built into national primary health programmes  

Partnership next steps •Joint work to influence the WHO targets and indicators to combat NCDs Indicators must apply across the life course action; remove all arbitrary age cut-offs e.g. breast cancer screening 35-49• World Health Day April 7th - launch of WHO/ADI global report of dementia •National action to secure NCD follow up - Age Demands Action on Health •In-country partnerships between HA Affiliates & ADI country associations; Ageways guest-edited by ADI •Programme partnerships - 10/66 research programme •Joint interventions e.g. promotion of the "helping carers to care" training programme at community level