October is International Older Person’s Month. Here’s the jaw-dropper… The number of older persons worldwide is going to double over the next three decades. It will be more than 1.5 billion persons in 2050.
Globally, all regions will see an increase in the size of the older population between 2019 and 2050. On one hand, the largest increase (312 million) will most likely occur in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia. Forecasts predict growth from 261 million in 2019 to 573 million in 2050.
On the other hand, Northern Africa and Western Asia will see the fastest increase in the number of older persons. The forecast from 29 million (2019) to 96 million (2050) is an increase of 226 per cent! Sub-Saharan Africa will see the second fastest increase. The population aged over 65 could grow from 32 million in 2019 to 101 million in 2050 (218 per cent).
On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons. Additionally, 2021-2030 has been declared as The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. It is an opportunity to bring together governments, civil society, international agencies, professionals, academia, the media, and the private sector. There will be a concerted, catalytic and collaborative action among stakeholders for the next ten years. The objective is to improve the lives of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live.
October is International Older Person’s Month. The first week of October is also officially Older Person’s Week and October 1st is International Older Person’s Day. 2020 also marks the 30th Anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons. This is a month for generating awareness around specific topics associated with getting older.
GRASSROOTS ACTION
“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”
Henry Ford
Our elders have a lifetime of experience to share with us. We need to acknowledge & appreciate their contributions to society. This October, we pay special attention to the challenges faced by elderly people. Our aim is to make the world a more inclusive place for our elders. We also want them to participate more freely in it and be an active part of our communities.
The stats look scary. The future appears bleak. But it doesn’t have to be so. There’s a lot that you can do to help us. In fact, you can do it almost every day, without upsetting your schedule. Furthermore, it won’t cost you any additional time, money or resources. How? The solution is simple – join us!
We love volunteers. Basically, anyone who can do anything to help in any way is welcome in our home. We know & understand that most of you simply don’t have the time to volunteer. We also know that most people can’t afford to give or donate due to the difficult times we live in. So, we have an alternative – a simple solution where everyone can pitch in.
For that reason, this month we’re really making a concerted effort to grow our “My Village” programme. MyVillage supports charities and welfare organisations that help vulnerable people in our communities. Simply get a free MyVillage card and swipe it when you are shopping (at most stores). A small part of your spend will be donated to the NPO of your choice. All we ask is that you consider making Essenwood Residential Home the beneficiary. It’s that easy and won’t cost you a cent!
SIGN UP & JOIN
You can find out more about MyVillage on our “our world” page. Alternatively, you can visit their website. The sign-up process is quick & simple. The benefits for us are more than you could know. After all, as an NPO, we’re always running at a loss. Fundraising is vital for us. Further, our resources are always stretched to the limit. We battle along and somehow get by every quarter. Your help can really ease the burden on us and our resources. In fact, we’re really looking forward to your help. If you need any more information about you can help, give us a call, or contact us. We’d love to hear from you.
