The growing number of older people is no longer a distant forecast. It’s a current reality.
Every region of the world is ageing, as people live longer and have fewer children, leading to profound demographic shifts. Yet pension and healthcare coverage for older people still fall short in many countries, including services for chronic diseases, disability and sexual health. Ageism and other forms of discrimination marginalize older people in the workforce and in isolated living arrangements, denying their rights.
Upholding the rights and well-being of older people can benefit society as a whole. When older people are healthy and productive, they not only flourish on an individual level, but can add trillions of dollars to the global economy, through lower healthcare costs and higher earnings and spending if they remain in the workforce. Older people can also act as mentors, custodians of culture and providers of care to the next generation.
Protecting the rights and well-being of people at all stages of life deepens intergenerational solidarity and counters narratives that different generations must compete with each other.
As we mark the International Day of Older Persons, the theme of the year is “Older persons driving local and global action: Our aspirations, our well-being, our rights.” It is a call to action to create more inclusive societies, in which governments lead with forward-thinking policies, businesses account for age-diverse markets and communities foster solidarity across generations.
Investments in lifelong learning, age-friendly work environments and accessible infrastructure uphold the right of older people to lead and participate in their societies. Protections against ageism must build on awareness and better data on the contributions and priorities of older people, and close legal loopholes that allow discrimination to persist.
