International Day of Older Persons acknowledges the critical role older people play in the society.

 

In our fast ageing world, older people increasingly play a critical role – through volunteer work, transmitting experience and knowledge, helping their families with caring responsibilities and increasing their participation in the paid labour force. Such contributions to development can only be ensured if older persons enjoy adequate levels of health, for which appropriate policies need to be in place.

 

In commemoration of this official UN day, UNFPA and HelpAge International will launch a landmark report entitled: Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: A Celebration and a Challenge. Three years in the making, this report – which includes contributions from across the UN, civil society and 1,300 older persons from 36 countries – includes new data, success stories and robust recommendation on how countries can unlock the potential wisdom and energy of the rising numbers of people over age 60.