October 01st of each year is dedicated to highlighting the contributions that older people make to society. The International Day of Older Persons is also observed to bring awareness to the aging population.
Throughout history, older persons have played an essential role in society. They have been leaders, teachers, and caretakers. However, older persons are also very vulnerable. They often face discrimination, abuse, and poverty.
By 2030, the number of people over the age of 60 is expected to grow by 46%. This means there will be 1.4 billion people over the age of 60. Older persons will outnumber youth and children under the age of 10. Part of the reason for this is older people are living longer than ever. Since the year 2000, life expectancy has increased by 5.5 years. The current life expectancy is 70 years for males and 75 years for females.
In 1982 an initiative called the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing was adopted. The UN General Assembly eventually endorsed the initiative. In 1990, the UN took the initiative one step further and established the International Day of Older Persons.
The 2021 theme “Digital Equity for All Ages” affirms the need for access and meaningful participation in the digital world by older persons.
Source: www.un.org
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