The Ageing and Development Report: Poverty, Independence and the World's Older People

Description

'This timely report by HelpAge International sets out to establish some of the key social and political issues affecting older people's lives. It marks the first documentation of this information and I feel sure that it will be an important contribution to the growing debate' From the Foreword by Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General, World Health Organization The world's population is ageing. The majority of older people live in the developing world, where unprecedented growth in the number of older people has major implications for economies, health systems, housing, working patterns and family relationships. The Ageing and Development Report is the first extensive survey of the issues. Drawing on HelpAge International's long experience in over 60 countries, with contributions from world experts in the field, key themes such as community involvement, family life, health and well-being, poverty and exclusion, gender, migration and economic security are addressed. Case studies and statistics provide a comprehensive review of the condition of older people in the world's poorest countries. The Report argues for a fundamental shift in policy and opinion on ageing to reflect the real economic and social contributions of older people and enable them to retain their independence. It will be essential reading for development policy makers and practitioners in governmental and non-governmental agencies, demographers and gerontologists.

"This landmark report argues convincingly that older people are a resource for all our futures, whose rights must be respected and whose contributions acknowledged in all that we do. With great clarity, its authors describe the realities of older people's lives and the many options facing research, policy and practice. It deserves to be widely-read and heeded." -- Michael Edwards, Senior Civil Society Specialist, The World Bank, and Director-Designate, Governance and Civil Society, The Ford Foundation