Dear editor,
The interesting article by Lee Sunho entitled "‘Centennial Human Life' " published in your March 3 edition deserves to be scrutinized from the perspective of the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations dealing with ageing.
Something unprecedented is going to happen: more and more centenarians are coming. In the USA, the number of persons aged 100 and older has gone up by 44 percent since 2000.There were 72,197 centenarians in 2014, compared with 50,281 in 2000, while in 1980, they numbered no more than 15,000.
However, at the U.N. level it is realistically recognized that in many parts of the world awareness of the ageing phenomenon remains limited or non-existent. Even developed countries are unprepared to successfully cope with this phenomenon, especially as the life expectancy of senior people continues to rise.
There is an emerging consensus that ageing is not a problem, but an achievement which should be positioned on the top of the social agenda at the national, regional and global levels. A universal dedication is needed to reach a shared vision of equality for persons of all ages, while aspiring for healthy and graceful lives for all.
In a Statement submitted by the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG), a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council, during the recent New York session of the U.N. Commission for Social Development, it was revealed that human capacity can be continuously developed through "life-long learning." There is evidence that ageing is reversible in some respects and not necessarily associated with decreased general capacity.
Specific recommendations have been formulated by IAGG for programs based on new scientific discoveries on the relationship of ageing to working ability. Such programs should include inter alia knowledge about health promotion in ageing; general cultural, occupational, job training courses and information technology skills.
There are solid reasons to believe that IAGG is right in strongly urging UN Member States to develop effective educational and training programs for older persons so that all senior citizens may enjoy the blessings of longevity in an ageing society.
The interesting article by Lee Sunho entitled "‘Centennial Human Life' " published in your March 3 edition deserves to be scrutinized from the perspective of the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations dealing with ageing.
Something unprecedented is going to happen: more and more centenarians are coming. In the USA, the number of persons aged 100 and older has gone up by 44 percent since 2000.There were 72,197 centenarians in 2014, compared with 50,281 in 2000, while in 1980, they numbered no more than 15,000.
However, at the U.N. level it is realistically recognized that in many parts of the world awareness of the ageing phenomenon remains limited or non-existent. Even developed countries are unprepared to successfully cope with this phenomenon, especially as the life expectancy of senior people continues to rise.
There is an emerging consensus that ageing is not a problem, but an achievement which should be positioned on the top of the social agenda at the national, regional and global levels. A universal dedication is needed to reach a shared vision of equality for persons of all ages, while aspiring for healthy and graceful lives for all.
In a Statement submitted by the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG), a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council, during the recent New York session of the U.N. Commission for Social Development, it was revealed that human capacity can be continuously developed through "life-long learning." There is evidence that ageing is reversible in some respects and not necessarily associated with decreased general capacity.
Specific recommendations have been formulated by IAGG for programs based on new scientific discoveries on the relationship of ageing to working ability. Such programs should include inter alia knowledge about health promotion in ageing; general cultural, occupational, job training courses and information technology skills.
There are solid reasons to believe that IAGG is right in strongly urging UN Member States to develop effective educational and training programs for older persons so that all senior citizens may enjoy the blessings of longevity in an ageing society.
Dr. Ioan Voicu
Assumption University
Bangkok
ioanvoicu@yahoo.com
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