ACTIVE AGEING FOR THE ACTIVE AGEING FOR THE AGEING POPULATION OF AGEING POPULATION OF

UGANDA.UGANDA.RICHARD SEMANDARICHARD SEMANDA

GERIATRIC RESPITE CARE FOUNDATION- DEPTGERIATRIC RESPITE CARE FOUNDATION- DEPT

P.O.BOX 2882 KAMPALAP.O.BOX 2882 KAMPALA

TEL. +256 772 404 520, +256 772 522 138TEL. +256 772 404 520, +256 772 522 138

E-mail. E-mail. agedtafu@yahoo.com, , geriatricrespitefug@mail.com

Ufa International Conference and Exhibition on AgeingUfa International Conference and Exhibition on Ageing

17-2017-20thth Sept 2012 Sept 2012

UgandaUgandaCovers a total area of 244,400 sq Km. 93,981 square miles. Uganda's population is 34.5 Millions With total Population of 1,101,039 of older persons as per 2002 Census. (4.6%)

A true picture of a A true picture of a Ugandan household.Ugandan household.

HAU

Basic facts of Uganda Basic facts of Uganda and Geriatricsand Geriatrics

Older people suffer from a wide range Older people suffer from a wide range of health problems.of health problems.

Many of these problems can be Many of these problems can be prevented, treated or rehabilitatedprevented, treated or rehabilitated

There is hardly any information about There is hardly any information about geriatric medical care which would geriatric medical care which would promote active and health care ageing promote active and health care ageing of older persons.of older persons.

This makes it very difficult to plan This makes it very difficult to plan preventative, treatment and preventative, treatment and rehabilitation services.rehabilitation services.

StudyStudy

African Palliative Care Association African Palliative Care Association (APCA) and Age care organizations of (APCA) and Age care organizations of Uganda carried out a study on the well Uganda carried out a study on the well being of older persons and how being of older persons and how appropriate older persons can be appropriate older persons can be inspired to be more activeinspired to be more active

Findings indicated that a lot remain Findings indicated that a lot remain undone to motivate older persons to be undone to motivate older persons to be physicallyphysically

active.active.

FindingFinding

40% older persons are supported by their 40% older persons are supported by their familiesfamilies

37% live in isolation and their families live 37% live in isolation and their families live far away from them.far away from them.

Government policy promotes older persons Government policy promotes older persons to remain at home for community care to remain at home for community care services. services.

Active ageing in Uganda is mainly for older Active ageing in Uganda is mainly for older persons with money because they can afford persons with money because they can afford to pay for wellness/ gymnastic centers.to pay for wellness/ gymnastic centers.

GRCF- InitiativesGRCF- Initiatives

GRCF was set up with and an aim of GRCF was set up with and an aim of addressing some of the older persons’ addressing some of the older persons’ health issues i.e health issues i.e -- - sensitize the older - sensitize the older persons on the persons on the

importance of active ageingimportance of active ageing

- Meet once in a fortnight at the centre - Meet once in a fortnight at the centre

to socialize, learn management of IGAto socialize, learn management of IGA

play games and encourage themplay games and encourage them

to participate in MDD.to participate in MDD.

Community sensitization Community sensitization

MDD ActivityMDD Activity

It reduces loneliness It reduces loneliness

and isolationand isolation Promotes activePromotes active

ageingageing

Some of the IGA Some of the IGA activitiesactivities

Physical Activity Physical Activity

Activities of older Activities of older persons persons cont.cont.

Activities of the older Activities of the older persons persons

GAPSGAPS

There is a knowledge gap about There is a knowledge gap about active ageing.active ageing.

Nutritional values are not properly Nutritional values are not properly utilizedutilized

No geriatric experts and services in No geriatric experts and services in UgandaUganda

Policy not yet implemented. Policy not yet implemented. Older persons’ services are limitedOlder persons’ services are limited

RecommendationsRecommendations

Older persons must be supported to Older persons must be supported to live actively until the end.live actively until the end.

Older persons are Encyclopedia in Older persons are Encyclopedia in Africa, so they should be valued.Africa, so they should be valued.

Volunteer experts in care of older Volunteer experts in care of older persons Should be utilized to persons Should be utilized to support the development of older support the development of older persons’ programspersons’ programs

AcknowledgementAcknowledgement

To International Council on Active Ageing To International Council on Active Ageing for their monthly journals on Active for their monthly journals on Active AgeingAgeing

Organization of Retired Persons "Wisdom Organization of Retired Persons "Wisdom Ripening“Ripening“

Charity Foundation “Ladoga” and Charity Foundation “Ladoga” and The Ministry of Labour and Social The Ministry of Labour and Social

Welfare of the Republic of Bashkortostan Welfare of the Republic of Bashkortostan for having invited me to this important for having invited me to this important conferenceconference

““Let old live and die with Let old live and die with dignity”dignity”