They may be free of any duty of life, obligations and living a life of contentment, still, they need an ear to have listen, a shoulder to lean upon and a hand to hold tight at times of feeling nowhere.
Yes, we are talking about aged people whose lives are celebrated not just in a day, but through one’s life, for their sacrifices, duties and efforts in making the people around them what they are today.
October 1 is commemorated as the ‘International Day of Older Persons’ and this day is dedicated to the geriatric population in Oman which is currently 6 per cent projected to increase to 12 per cent by 2050.
“Population ageing is occurring alongside broader social and economic changes taking place throughout the world, decrease in fertility, increase life expectancy and improve in heathcare services/facilities. Between 1950 and 2010, life expectancy worldwide rise from 46 to 68’’, according to Dr Saleha al Jadidi, Consultant Psychistry and Geraitric.
Oman has nearly 145,450 elderly people comprising 75,265 females and 70,194 males. Their population is expected to grow at a rate of 9 per cent by 2040, thanks to the advanced medical care and better living standards.
According to WHO reports, the number of older adults in 2020 are 700 million persons aged around 65 years and above worldwide. This projected number expected to increase in 2050 by 1.6 billion persons aged 65+. It expected to increase from 9 per cent to 16 per cent in 2050.
Moreover, the increase in ageing led to many issues including dementia, which represents 50 million people around the world which is predicted to touch 140 million figure in 2050. The fastest increase is projected to take place in least developed countries, where the number of persons aged 65 or over rise from 37 million in 2019 to 120 million in 2050.
Therefore, the International Day of Older Persons (October 1) coined by UN in 1990 is to increase awareness issues related to elderly, each with given a theme for addressing awareness issues.
“As population, ageing became one of most significant social transformation with implications to all sectors. Hence, collaboration actions required to improve the lives of older adults and their families by education the public on issues of concern and mobilise the resources’’, adds Dr Saleha, who is also the Chairperson of Oman Geraitric Society.
Oman has recently launched a society called ‘Omani Association for the Elderly Health’, a major milestone in the care for the elderly under the umbrella of the Omani Medical Association.
The association brings together a group of doctors interested in the health of the elderly, medical groups and assistance interested in providing healthcare to the elderly patients.
This year 2021, the theme of the Int’l Day of the Older Persons (October 1) is digital equality for all ages. This is to bring the attention of the world for digital inclusion of older adults while tackling stereotypes and discrimination associated with digitalisation. It also aims to address Public and private interests in areas of availability and affordability of infrastructure, to explore the role of policies and legal frameworks and to highlight the need for legally binding instrument on rights of older persons.
