GREAT BAY,– The Preventive Health Departments (PHD) says ageing is a privilege and a societal achievement. It is also a challenge, which will impact on all aspects of society in the 21st century. It’s a challenge that cannot be addressed by the public and private sectors alone, but requires a joint societal approach.
PHD adds now that International Day of Older Persons, celebrated on October 1, has past and gone, the community still has a responsibility to overall help older people remain healthy and active which is a necessity, and not a luxury.
As part of the Calendar of Health Observances, the PHD said that October 1 was a special day to pay tribute to the nation’s seniors for all they have given and continue to give to our lives. The PHD says seniors should have the opportunity to participate and be healthy, active, and safe and secure no matter where they live.
In 2000, there were 600 million people aged 60 and over. There will be 1.2 billion by 2025 and two billion by 2050. Today, about two thirds of all older people are living in the developing world; by 2025 it will be 75 per cent.
The PHD questions whether services and structures are ready to deal with the increase of an aging population. The Health Survey Study in 1999 revealed that St. Maarten is generally a young population however, 10-years later that young population is aging and the question is, do we have sufficient services, and capacity to deal with the need of the aging population?
In the developed world, the very old (age 80+) is the fastest growing population group. Women outlive men in virtually all societies; consequently in very old age, the ratio of women/men is 2:1.
October 1 also represented Senior Health & Fitness Day. Eating healthy and keeping active will go a long way in contributing and maintaining a healthy life style.
The international theme was “Toward a Society of All Ages,” which signifies social inclusion, respect and dignity, along with the promotion and protection of human rights for all.
