Last Sunday The New York Times Magazine featured an article on global demographics, describing the birth rates in various countries and regions around the world. None of this information is new to those of us in the ageing field but it is good to see that the mainstream press is starting to look seriously at this issue.

As we’ve noted many times in our Global Ageing Network Blog, global ageing will be the defining demographic event of this century and will impact the world in many ways – financial systems, retirement, workforce and even climate change. The NYTimes is a good conversation starter – Let’s keep it going.

Much has been written in the US about the Green House movement, founded by Dr. Bill Thomas, creator of the Eden Alternative. The Green House model has been consistently featured in articles and as education sessions since its inception.

This recent article on Kiplinger.Com gives a good description of the model here in the US. If there are similar models of care in your country please share them with us.

Late in 2007 we wrote about the importance of care coordination for individuals moving from one level of health care to another. The OECD’s study highlighted four key areas for reform and gave an overview of practices in three countries – the US, Germany and England.

Now according to a recent report, the Australian Government has allocated AUS$300 million to provide transition services for elderly to help them regain heath and independence after discharge from a hospital. The program will provide a range of low intensity therapy services, including physiotherapy, dietetics and podiatry, as well as nursing support and personal care services.

This is a very important part of a comprehensive health care plan and is a good model for others to replicate.

The European Commission wants to see Europe developing as a hub for ICT for older people through the development of smart home technologies, electronic alarm systems and remote health facilities, for example.

It is hoped that smart devices, mobile technologies for monitoring vital signs and user-friendly interfaces for people with impaired vision or hearing will improve the quality of life of elderly people, their carers and families.

According to an article on VNUNET, the plan, proposed by the European Commission in June 2007, had already been approved by the European Parliament in March 2008 in a first reading. Twenty EU member states, as well as Israel, Norway and Switzerland would participate in this € 600 million joint research project called “Ambient Assisted Living” programme.

Between now and 2013, another € 400 million are allocated to research and innovation for the elderly people under the E.U.’s seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. “There is no reason for older people in Europe to miss out on the benefits of new technologies. The solutions and services resulting from this program will help them to remain active in society as well as staying socially connected and independent for a longer time,” said Viviane Reding, E.U. Commissioner for the information society and media.

The Care Home Olympics took place on Thursday, 19 June 2009, in Sheffield, England. Competitors tested each other’s skills in sports such as bowling, skittles, mini golf, target throwing and dominoes. Teams were made up of residents from 20 care homes, with the event starting with a chair-based, mass warm up and ending with dancing.

A prime goal of the Olympics was emphasizing the importance of physical activity. And of course having a chance to meet people and socialize are great benefits too.

And the Lord Mayor presented metals and prizes to the winning homes.

Go Team!!

There have been numerous articles and studies about the tidal wave of retirees swamping retirement pension systems as the baby boomers leave the workforce. Not only have the prognosticators declared that there will be a financial drain both in terms of increase in health care expenditures as well as in tapping of government pension systems, there will also be a workforce crisis as jobs go empty.

Not so, says Kevin Coyne of the Coyne Partnership. In a recent article in Business Week, Kevin and his business partner Shawn Coyne say that the Silver Tsunami will be more of a trickle – certainly in the US. According to their calculation more older Americans will choose to work beyond age 65 and there will be fewer retirees and more workers.

This is certainly a much rosier picture than we’ve seen elsewhere. Thoughts? Is this true in your country???

Remember the Zimmers?? Have you seen the movie Forever Young? Both are examples of how talented and innovative our elder citizens are. And here is another group, the RejuveNation singing the Turtles hit song, Happy Together. A film about them was part of Pangea Day a global film festival…Enjoy.

Have you ever wanted to learn more about housing policy in the United States? If so, we have some great resources for you.

Thanks to IAHSA Board Member Steve Protulis we are able to connect you to reports that have been compiled in response to inquiries by international delegations visiting the Department of Housing & Urban Development in Washington.

These visitors have many questions about applying U.S. practices in emerging markets, structuring an effective secondary mortgage market, and managing credit risk. Three reports compiled in response to these inquiries are now available in multiple languages and
can be downloaded, free of charge, from the web pages listed below:

o Evolution of the U.S. Housing Finance System: a
Historical Survey and Lessons for Emerging
Mortgage Markets,
www.huduser.org/publications/hsgfin/US_evolution.html
(in English, French, Spanish, and Russian).

o Mortgage Securitization - Lessons for Emerging
Markets, www.huduser.org/publications/hsgfin/Mortgsecurity.html
(in English, French, and Spanish).

o The Measurement and Management of Mortgage Credit
Risk in the United States: Implications for
Emerging Mortgage Markets,
www.huduser.org/publications/hsgfin/MortgCreditRisk.html
(in English, French, and Spanish).

Sunday is the 3^rd Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, launched three years ago by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.

The purpose is to raise awareness of the issue of elder abuse and to encourage the adoption of a comprehensive strategy to prevent elder abuse and ensure quality of long-term care for older people.

Studies show that 4% of older people living in private households and 30% of older people in institutions are victims of elder abuse. Elder abuse can take various forms: physical, psychological or emotional, sexual, financial or neglect. Inadequate care is more often related to the incapacity of overburdened and stressed carers to cope with the increasing demands posed on them, rather than a real intent to exploit or harm vulnerable older people.

An example of what is possible is demonstrated by IAHSA member The Hebrew Home at Riverdale in NY, USA. They created the Weinberg Center for Elder Abuse Prevention, Intervention and Research, the first comprehensive elder abuse center in the US. The Center provides a coordinated system of crisis intervention that includes an emergency residential shelter and community based services for victims of elder abuse; a broad spectrum of community education and training programs to increase professional knowledge; a national replication training program; and a research component to profile victims.

Share with us other examples of innovative approaches for dealing with this terrible problem. And mark Sunday 15 June as ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY.

According to a new national survey of working adults in the US, one in four employees currently cares for an older or disabled adult.

The study, conducted by work-life benefits firm Workplace Options, noted that of the employees caring for an older adult, nearly half have missed work time.

The role of the employer was also reviewed and 61% of the respondents said that they would utilize a service that assisted with care giving if it was provided by the employer free of charge.

It would be interesting to see if the situation is similar elsewhere in the world. Please add a comment to let us know what you see in your country.