Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: A celebration and a challenge

With one in nine persons in the world aged 60 years or over, projected to increase to one in five by 2050, population ageing is a phenomenon that can no longer be ignored. It analyses the current situation of older persons and reviews progress in policies and actions taken by governments and other stakeholders in implementing the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing to respond to the opportunities and challenges of an ageing world.

The report identifies gaps and provides recommendations for the way forward to ensure a society for all ages in which both young and old are given the opportunity to contribute to development and share in its benefits. A unique feature of the report is a focus on the voices of older persons themselves, captured through consultations with older men and women around the world.

Ten priority actions to maximise the opportunity of ageing populations:

• recognise the inevitability of population ageing and the need to adequately prepare governments, civil society, private sector, communities, and families for the growing numbers of older persons, by enhancing understanding, strengthening national and local capacities, and developing the political, economic and social reforms needed to adapt societies to an ageing world
• ensure that all older persons can live with dignity and security, enjoying access to essential health and social services and a minimum income through the implementation of national social protection floors and other social investments that extend the autonomy and independence of older people, prevent impoverishment in old age and contribute to a more healthy ageing
• develop support systems which ensure that frail older persons receive the long-term care they need and promote active and healthy ageing at the local level to facilitate ageing in place
• invest in young people today by promoting healthy habits, and ensuring education and employment opportunities, access to health services, and social security coverage as the best investment to improve the lives of future generations of older persons
• Support international and national efforts to develop comparative research on ageing, and ensure that gender and culture-sensitive data and evidence from this research are available to inform policymaking
• mainstream ageing into all gender policies and gender into ageing policies, taking into account the specific requirements of older women and men
• ensure inclusion of ageing and the needs of older persons in all national development policies and programmes
• ensure inclusion of ageing and the needs of older persons in national humanitarian response, climate change mitigation and adaptation plans, and disaster management and preparedness programmes
• ensure that ageing issues are adequately reflected in the post-2015 development agenda, including through the development of specific goals and indicators
• develop a new rights-based culture of ageing and a change of mindset and societal attitudes towards ageing and older persons, from welfare recipients to active, contributing members of society. This requires, among others, working towards the development of international human rights instruments and their translation into national laws and regulations and affirmative measures that challenge age discrimination