Setting the scene Ageing and technology in the 21 st century Prague, May 2012 Alexandre Kalache President - International Longevity Centre - Brazil Senior Policy Advisor on Global Ageing, New York Academy of Medicine HelpAge International Global Ambassador

Allow me to be personal Life expectancy in 1945 when I was born was 43 years – today: year-gain in my life time In 1945 TFR was in mid 1970s – and now, 1,8

WHY? THE INFUENCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN CONTROLLING DEATH AND IMPROVING HEALTH OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES HAS GIVEN US THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT OF THE 20th CENTURY.

What kind of technology? Engineering Water supply Environmental control Green Revolution Vaccines New drugs Early disease detection devices... etc...etc

In the 21 st century, much more to come – with tremendous implications to the way we age for those who will have access to such wonders.

The speed of the ageing process and the role of technology in the decline of Fertility Rates

Women today aged did not benefit from the technological revolution that might have helped them to control their number of children. They spent their younger adult years caring for their children, then parents, now partners – without being at all sure if there will be someone there to care for them when/if needed...

The unprecedented speed of ageing

...particularly in the South.

THE DIVERSITY OF OLD AGE Gender SES Age groups Culture Ethnicity Rural/Urban Sexual identity Nationality Religion... etc... etc...

Ageing – the contrasts

Hundreds of millions are left out of the technologies WE take for granted.

Too many labels: confusing! Productive Positive Ageing well Successful Healthy Vital Active

Kalache - Consultorias WHO definition of Active Ageing: The process of optimizing the opportunities for Health, Participation and Security in order to enhance quality of life as individuals age

The 4 th Pillar: Life long learning International Conference on Active Ageing, Seville, 2010

Embracing a Rights-based approach – implying: The Right to Health The Right to Learn The Right to Work The Right to be Protected The Right to be Insured The Right to Participate The Right not to be neglected, abused, abandoned...as well as...

The Right to Stop The Right to Rest

Strengthening international mechanisms for the protection of Rights of Older Persons

The need for an International CONVENTION

Emphasis on “productivity” can be misplaced.

In developing countries 80% of Older Persons do not have basic income On the whole they are highly productive... and deeply unprotected.

Older People as resources to their families, communities and the Economy.

The impact of the global financial crisis In Spain: 25% unemployment rate, over 50% within the age group 15-24! However, within contexts such as thes, older people often become the main source of income for the whole family.

Yet...in terms of policies we are still doing nearly everything wrong...stuck within a 19 th century mind frame: compulsory retirement; little thought given to graduated retirement; lack of training opportunities which limits individuals’ ability to reinvent themselves as they age.

Bismarck was right in But since then 130 years have passed, LEB has increased to 80+ in at least 20 countries – and counting. Yet we are still by and large trapped in the same policies.

ULTIMATELY WHAT IS NEEDED, IS TO FIGHT FOR INCLUSION.

Kalache - Consultorias A NO TO ALL FORMS OF EXCLUSION

Kalache - Consultorias Institutional

Socio-economic Socio-economic

Kalache - Consultorias Territorial Territorial

Kalache - Consultorias Identity

Social capital Social capital

Kalache - Consultorias Socio-political Socio-political

WHERE ARE WE NOW!??

Important neglected issues Migration and ageing LTC Ethical issues Crisis/emergencies Life course of exclusion Intergenerational solidarity/global crisis Controlling the anti-ageing industry.... etc....etc

Re-inventing the life course:...intertwining periods for learning, for being “productive”, for raising children, for caring, for recharging batteries...for starting again...at whatever age.

The emergence of a new transition Baby boomers “created” the social construct of adolescence – because of the numbers, the unprecedented levels of education and good health and because they lived in Peace and relative wealth. What a luxury compared to any preceding cohort!!

GERONTOLESCENCE Now...we are starting to “create” a new transition...we are: gerontolescents.

The difference is that while adolescence lasts for 4 or 5 years, gerontolescence will last for 2, 3 decades.

Kalache - Consultorias Developing a culture of ageing…

Planning for Diversity...

And promoting solidarity Between the rich and the poor Men and women Developed and developing Different ethnicities...countries, cultures, religions and, above all...

Solidarity between the old and the young. Pedro Kalache, 2003