The IFA began operations in 1973, at a time when organizations around the world were only beginning to understand population ageing trends. AARP was instrumental in founding the IFA, and the two organizations have enjoyed a strong relationship ever since.
The IFA has a long established and wide-ranging network of member organizations around the world. The network extends to over 75 countries covering every region. Together these organizations represent over 80 million older people.
Support for older people is becoming an increasing priority issue in the developing world and this will only continue as the proportion of older people increases in the future. Globally, the number of persons aged 60 and above is expected to more than double by 2015 and more than triple by 2100 (3.2 billion). Sixty-six percent (66%) of the increase will occur in Asia, 13% in Africa and 11% in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Bruna Swerts – July 18, 2022 How meaningful is our engagement with older people? During the past week, IFA together with the NGO Committee on Ageing, Geneva, ILC Global Alliance, and HelpAge International proudly hosted the Colloquium Towards Mobilizing Action and...
Bruna Swerts – July 11, 2022 “Money depended on age; the old had it, some of them had lashings of it; the young did not.” Martha Gellhorn wrote that about Europeans (particularly the British) less than a century ago. It made sense – the young were careless and...
Bruna Swerts – July 4, 2022 There is probably no need for you to know that I am a huge fan of Regency Era literature – and yes, Jane Austen is among my favourite authors. It would not hurt for you to know, however, that in several (if not all) of her novels, there is...
Bruna Swerts – June 27, 2022 Is there such a thing as being too old to pick up the bill at a restaurant? Or pick up the baby from the nursery? While older people are often referred to as the demographic that requires special care and is not expected to contribute to...
Bruna Swerts – June 20, 2022 It is a well-known dream of people who inhabit urban areas to move to the countryside where they can grow old and enjoy this idea of a high-quality life – but is that accurate, or could it be an illusion? As the rates of older people among...