2012 ACTIVE AGEING: GOOD HEALTH ADDS LIFE TO YEARS

On 7 April 2012, World Health Day, activities and campaigns throughout the world focus on ageing and health, raising awareness of what individuals and governments can do to promote active and healthy ageing. The median age of the global population is steadily rising, with the number of people aged 60 years and more expected to triple between 2000 and 2050. In the WHO European Region, average life expectancy in many countries already exceeds 80 years for women and 75 for men. This unprecedented achievement offers both opportunities and challenges for individuals, their families and society. These words probably reflect the thoughts of a majority of the geriatric population. Life expectancy has increased in the past few years. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2050, 2 billion people, that is, 1 out of every 4 persons will be older than 60 years of age. Eighty percent among these will be living in the less-developed countries, which may not have the infrastructure to manage this population. Increasing age brings about a multitude of health problems. Mobility gets restricted due to ailments like arthritis and stroke. Memory gets affected due to conditions like Alzheimer's disease. All these factors lead to reduced social interaction and isolation, often making the last few days the saddest part of the lifetime. Keeping this in mind, the theme of the World Health Day this year deals with Aging and Health and is aptly titled: Good Health Adds Life to Years.

"If I'd known I was gonna live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself." These were the words of Eubie Blake, who died 5 days after his hundredth birthday.

How can the latter few years of life become more livable? One way is to ensure that middleaged adults take adequate care of their health and tackle health issues at the earliest. Our current stress-filled lives have increased our health problems. Regular screening and early treatment of these issues could prevent them from worsening in later life.

How can older individuals continue to lead a productive and social life? One way to achieve this is by using latest technologies. Various devices could help to improve the health of the elderly population. For example, a simple mobile phone can keep an elderly connected with his or her health-care professional. The phone can also serve as a reminder to take medications on time.

It is also important to understand the needs of the elderly within the society and to make the surroundings friendly for them. For example, public transport should be made easy to use. Medical clinics and pharmacies should be easily accessible.

With the increasing number of elderly individuals, it has become important to concentrate on the health of this group to ensure that they lead a comfortable and productive life, even in the later years. Adequate measures to ensure good health will enable them to live life at the fullest and with dignity till the very end.

Ageing in Japan : 23%population in Japan 65 years or older Japanese women : 86 Life expectancy of Japanese women Elderly population : 32 000Estimated number of centenarians living in Japan in 2007

WORLD HEALTH DAY 2012: AGEING AND HEALTH

Every year, World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. World Health Day is a global campaign, inviting everyone from global leaders to the public in all countries to focus on a single health challenge with global impact. Focusing on new and emerging health issues, World Health Day provides an opportunity to start collective action to protect people's health and well-being. It is an opportunity to engage in finding solutions that benefit us all. "Good health adds life to years" The topic of World Health Day in 2012 is Ageing and Health with the theme "Good health adds life to years". The focus is how good health throughout life can help older men and women lead full and productive lives and be a resource for their families and communities. Ageing concerns each and every one of us whether young or old, male or female, rich or poor no matter where we live.

The

world

will

soon

have

more

older

people

than

children.

On World Health Day 2012, WHO will focus on preparing health providers and societies to meet the health needs of older populations. This includes preventing and managing age-associated chronic diseases; designing sustainable policies on long-term and palliative care; and developing age-friendly services and settings, so older people retain their health and remain a resource for societies.

WORLD HEALTH DAY 2012: AGEING AND HEALTH

Over the past century life expectancy has increased dramatically and the world will soon have more older people than children. Ageing populations occur everywhere, but lessdeveloped countries are witnessing the fastest change. This social transformation represents both challenges and opportunities. In particular, countries may only have a single generation to prepare their health and social systems for an ageing world.

On April 7th, the World Health Organization will focus on Ageing and Health for World Health Day. In Japan, it represents an opportunity to celebrate Japans Wisdom Years, particularly since it is now the most aged society in the world. Life expectancy surpasses 83 years old, the highest level in the world.

To mark World Health Day, WHO in Kobe is inviting members of the public to a special forum on ageing in Kobe on 7 April 2012.