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Homecare Hub’s Older Not Invisible Initiative
In response to the increased apathy towards older adults' health and wellbeing in society, Homecare Hub is thrilled to announce their partnership with the IFA on an...
Press Release: COVID-19 Exposing a Wider Ageism Pandemic
Press Release COVID-19 Exposing a Wider Ageism Pandemic The response to control the COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled just how widespread ageism is – older and younger people have...
Protecting Progress of Vaccination Throughout Life
Written by:Jane Barratt, Secretary General, International Federation on Ageing Unity only happens when we all walk together, and now is the time to end immunization inequity in...
Our Experts
Grief as a Public Health Concern for Older People
Grief is the biological, natural response to the death of a loved one. Often, time leads to adaptation of the loss. And yet, for some, the grief persists and can become so severe that it interferes with both physical and mental health resulting in impaired function. This chronic condition is called complicated grief (CG) or persistent complicated bereavement disorder. Time after time, among older people, CG is underdiagnosed and undertreated. Grief is the process of reacting to a loss, while bereavement is the period after a loss during which the mourning occurs. The distinct characteristic of CG is the constant yearning for the deceased. Defined as “a psychological protest against the reality of loss and a general reluctance to make the adaptations to life in the absence of the loved one” , this yearning is complicated with inordinate bitterness, alienation from previous social relationships, and a perceived futility of life. Risk factors for CG include prior loss, traumatic exposure, and quality of the relationship with the deceased. Older people grieving the death of a spouse or child have been found to have higher prevalence of CG when compared with younger people. For those who have spent a lifetime together, the pain is almost unbearable. Bereavement can have a devastating impact on an older person’s immune system. The extreme distress found in those with CG has been associated with increased risk of chronic diseases, cancer, depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Resulting in higher rates of hospitalisation and a poorer quality of life, complicated grief among older persons must be viewed as a public health concern. Ageism is prevalent even during the process of grief, with suggestions that the older person should be “used to it” and hence feel emotions less intensely. Loss is a powerful experience at any phase in the life course, and for older people especially, the grieving process can be hazardous. Support must be offered to the grieving older person, and can take the form of social support, one-on-one or group counselling, or even just a phone hotline. To address the increased need for grief and bereavement support during COVID-19, the South Okanagan Loss Society (SOLS) launched a volunteer program for those who have lost a loved one and are grieving alone. As each person’s grief journey is unique, a variety of programs are offered including a seniors-only group, weekly virtual meetings, and one-on-one counselling. COVID-19 has caused such devastation on a global scale, that the amount of grief and bereavement caused is immeasurable. A mere three years ago, conversations on death-friendly communities would have been unimaginable, and yet it is now time to rethink how communities feel and act towards death, dying, and bereavement perhaps even through the lens of ageism. Death-friendly communities ease the fear of ageing and dying. They offer opportunities to improve social inclusion by stopping the alienation of those who have aged and therefore more likely to die. A death-friendly approach could combat, for instance, the ageism experienced among clinical psychology students with death-anxiety who are less willing to work with older people in their practice. Support for older people who are experiencing grief and bereavement must be viewed through the lens of key action areas and messages of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing, which emphasize the critical need to combat ageism and create communities that not only foster the abilities of older people but also allows them to age and grieve with dignity and respect. A proactive approach towards preparing communities for death and bereavement must go hand-in-hand with the implementation of policies at country level. To learn more about advocating for grief and bereavement support for older people, please contact Dr. Regina Roller-Wirnsberger, President, Austrian Society of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at the IFA Expert Centre, which is a unique resource for those interested or involved in the areas of death and disability, ageing, vision health, human rights, vaccination, and more. To contribute to the crucial dialogue on grief and bereavement care for older people, please connect with Dr. Supriya Venigalla (svenigalla@ifa.ngo). 1 Katherine P. Supiano, PhD, Marilyn Luptak, PhD, Complicated Grief in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Complicated Grief Group Therapy, The Gerontologist, Volume 54, Issue 5, October 2014, Pages 840–856, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnt076 2 Prigerson, H. G., Bierhals, A. J., Kasl, S. V., Reynolds, C. F. III, Shear, M. K., Newsom, J. T., & Jacobs, S. (1996). Complicated grief as a disorder distinct from bereavement-related depression and anxiety: A replication study. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 153(11), 1484–1486. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.153.11.1484 3 Sadavoy, J., Lazarus, L. W., Jarvik, L. F., & Grossberg, G. T. (Eds.). (1996). Comprehensive review of geriatric psychiatry—II (2nd ed.). American Psychiatric Association. 4 Marcela Mejia, Scott M. Hyman, Samantha Behbahani & Kristen Farrell-Turner (2018) Death anxiety and ageist attitudes are related to trainees’ interest in working with older adults,Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 39:3, 341-356, DOI: 10.1080/02701960.2016.1247063
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Feeling the Heat: The Impact of Extreme Heat on Older Adults
Recent forest fires in California, Greece and Australia; unprecedented flooding in Germany and China; extreme heat waves in Canada and the US Pacific Northwest; and severe droughts in Central Brazil and Asia all point to the fact that we are in the midst of a global climate crisis. In a recent UN Climate Science Report the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for the first time released predictions on the likelihood of extreme weather events across a variety of scenarios. While predictions varied greatly across these scenarios the message was clear, extreme weather events are expected to increase in both frequency and severity. Heat waves have shown a stronger increase in frequency than all other extreme events. Whereas heatwaves would at one time occur twice in a century they are now likely to happen every five to six years with 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming. The UN Climate report projects this increase could be surpassed within two decades. The implications of extreme heat are significant, and the evidence has been strikingly clear that extreme heat disproportionately affects the lives of older people. A Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) article in June, addressed the most recent heatwave experienced in Western Canada a staggering 570 deaths were ruled “heat related.” More than 3 in 4 deaths (79%) were Canadian seniors."I don't think anybody in the province, from the public health officials to the general public, really understood that we may see over 500 deaths in a week due to the heat. We have never seen something like that in this province. Not that I'm aware of in the last 30 years doing this kind of work. Absolutely unprecedented." -- Lisa Lapointe, Chief Coroner, British Columbia This unprecedented loss of life has led to increased calls for government action and planning in advance of future heat waves. In New Brunswick, Mr Alphonse Dionne, President of the Senior Citizens Federation has voiced particular concern for older adults who are living in rural and remote communities where there are fewer services and locations to escape the heat."I think a lot of people are still not taking this as seriously as they should. The planet is changing and it's changing fast." -- Mr Dionne, President of the Senior Citizens Federation, New Brunswick Social isolation is also a significant concern and can increase the risk for older adults facing heat waves. According to Dr Lisa Lapointe the majority of older adults who lost their lives during the June heatwave were found alone in their homes, underscoring the urgent need to investigate the endemic nature of ageism while calling for improved policies and funded programs for older people facing social isolation and loneliness. According to Dr Jennifer Baumbusch, Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia School of Nursing current public health messaging and warnings about the heat are falling woefully short of acceptable. The failure to address the significant risks posed to older adults and make available key information on when individuals should be seeking help must be a priority. While there are no simple solutions to addressing a climate that is radically changing, planning and preparedness must focus on those most at risk, including older adults. Policy considerations include access to public services and locations where air conditioning is available, the provision of air conditioning units in rural and remote settings and in low income settings, ensuring that older adults who live alone are identified and supported, and older adults and those living with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease etc. are aware of and have access to reliable and timely guidance regarding how to mitigate risk, is crucial to avoiding further loss of life. To learn more about climate change and the impact on older adults connect with IFA expert Dr. Lucie Vidovićová.
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For Older Persons, Isolation Began Long Before the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought attention to the inadequate care of older persons, who have paid a high price throughout the pandemic. Since March 2021, there have been 119 million cases and 4.1 million deaths globally1 with the greatest number of deaths occurring among older persons. The pandemic has not only highlighted the burden of respiratory infections among the ageing population, but also the debilitating impact of isolation. A recent article in the Irish Times highlights some of the ways in which older people have faced increased isolation during the pandemic, how lockdowns have diminished their role in society, and the fact that much-needed social interactions have become largely non-existent. The lack of social interactions has been linked to diminished physical and mental health. These realities are not exclusive to the COVID-19 pandemic and the article includes voices of older persons who emphasized that they had had years of experience with isolation. In a pre-pandemic world, social isolation was a reality that existed but was little-known, and the pandemic has only exacerbated the impact of isolation on the lives of older persons. A pre-pandemic article discussed the ways in which people who were socially isolated were more likely to experience depression, difficulties managing daily activities, and had an increased chance of having a chronic condition. The negative impact of isolation on both mental and physical health cannot be ignored and points at the urgent need to prioritize the rights of older people. As such, it is of great importance for global communities to uphold the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing, which calls all member states to ensure that older people can continue to participate and be an integral part of society. Furthermore, it is vital to recognize that it is a collective responsibility to guarantee and safeguard the rights of older persons. The IFA’s 15th Global Conference on Ageing entitled “Rights Matter” is underpinned by the four action areas of the Decade and is a global point of connection for experts in the field of healthy ageing. To learn more about the importance of addressing social isolation and the rights of older people, contact Emily A. Greenfield, Associate Professor of Social Work, Rutgers University; Dr. Isabella Aboderin, Senior Research Scientist, Oxford Institute of Population Ageing; and Dr. Kiran Rabheru, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa at the IFA Expert Centre. The Expert Centre is a unique resource for those interested in connecting with thought leaders to help influence policy related to population ageing. 1John Hopkins University (2021). COVID-19 Dashboard. Retrieved online at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html.
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To be the global point of connection and a network of experts and expertise to influence and shape age-related policy.
Wise Words
LGBTI and Long-term Care Facilities: Creating Culturally Safe Care
An interview with Ms. Samantha Edmonds Ms. Samantha Edmonds is one of Australia’s leading LGBTI inclusive strategists, policy makers and influencers with extensive knowledge and...
Australia’s COVID-19 successes shine a light on Canada’s troubled long-term care sector
Greg Shaw of the IFA speaks to the differences in the long-term care systems in Canada and Australia which have had a large impact on the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in both countries in this CBC News article.
Working Together to Defeat Invasive Meningococcal Disease
April 24 is World Meningitis Day, and on this day, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) together with the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) and Immunize Canada want to remind you that meningococcal disease is a health risk you should not take.
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