April 2019

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Are you interested in or working at the intersection of ageing, cognitive health and policy? The IFA in partnership with  DaneAge  is proud to host the IFA Copenhagen Summit on Cognitive Reserve , a global forum to share successful policies and best practices that encourage a life course approach to brain health. On 24-25 October 2019 in Copenhagen, Denmark, experts in the fields of public health, policy, healthy ageing and cognitive health will meet to deliberate how to ensure that cognitive reserve is embedded within a life course approach to policy and practice. Program, registration, sponsorship opportunities and additional logistic information is available on the Copenhagen Summit on Cognitive Reserve  website .  Register Now IFA Welcomes Three New Project Officers The IFA is pleased to welcome Ms. Anna Sangster, Ms. Stephanie Sebastian and Ms. Helen Valkanas to the team as Project Officers this March/April. As recent graduates of their respective Masters of Public Health programs, they bring experience and renewed passion for the priority project areas of the IFA. For full biographies, click here . The IFA would also like to take this opportunity to thank and bid farewell to Ms. Angela Burns and Ms. Jessica Rochman-Fowler who are pursuing new career opportunities. Their contributions to the IFA have been significant and they will be missed by the team at the IFA. The 2019 Annual Members Meeting for the IFA will be held on Tuesday, 15 October 2019 at 7:00 AM Easter Standard Time. This will be the first time the meeting will be held virtually and will provide greater access to all IFA members for participation in this discussion. The IFA will be hosting the virtual meeting using a new software platform called Zoom. Please register for the meeting in advance. Register Now Akita, Japan: Leading the way for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities With 30% of the total population over the age of 65 years old, combined with a declining birth rate, Akita, Japan has been executing age-friendly initiatives for their citizens with high priority. As a recognized member of the WHO’s Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities for several years, the city of Akita has applied a multi-sectoral approach to improving environments for older adults. Some initiatives include but are not limited to improving infrastructure and changing the societal views of elders in the city. As a result of these efforts, interesting enterprises have become a reality. One example includes a program entitled “Shop Manager for a Day”, where the goal is to have a familiar person work at a local store, ultimately encouraging older people to visit the store and have someone familiar working there to assist them if required. The idea sought to combat social isolation, often experienced by older adults. The successful implementation of these initiatives has not happened by accident. They have been a prime example of collaboration between city officials, higher government and of course, the citizens of Akita. It is hoped that more cities worldwide look to Akita as an example of an effective age-friendly city. Combating ageism: Setting the framework for future webinars As the end of March approached, so did the end of the first stream of the IFA Post Conference Education webinar series : Combating Ageism. While many people have a general idea of what ageism is, defining the term and describing the varied ways it manifests, is often quite complicated. Over the last three months,  the webinars  that were presented discussed many ideas which together elucidated not only what ageism looks like, but how to combat it around the world. It is clear that the pervasive nature of ageism has negative impacts on older persons and society and as the Post Conference Education webinar series transitions into its next theme,  Enabling Functional Ability , these lessons learned will be essential in framing the discussion to come. To join the mailing list for future webinars, please contact Ms Hannah Girdler

Upcoming Events World Health Day 7 April 2019 The IFA joins colleagues around the world to celebrate World Health Day. The theme for 2019 is “Universal Health Coverage”, which aims to ensure a better understanding of what universal health coverage means for those who have it, and to advocate for access for those who don’t. The IFA believes older adults should have equal access to primary care. If you agree, join the conversation using #WorldHealthDay #UHC #RightsMatter The 10th Session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWGA) 15- 18 April 2019 The IFA will be co-organizing a side event with the Dave Omokaro Foundation on 17 April 2019 entitled “Independence, Autonomy and Rights of Older Persons in the African Context.” The objective is to enhance understandings of systemic drivers of older person's vulnerabilities in Africa and highlight the importance of legislative reforms to strengthen their rights. The side event will also serve to galvanize support for a legally binding human rights instrument specifically for older persons among Member States in the African region through the Stakeholder Group on Ageing (SGA) of Africa. Register Here National Preventive Health and Aging Education Series 15 April 2019 Mr Greg Shaw joins CARP at Simon Fraser University on 15 April 2019 for the National Preventive Health and Aging Education Series. Policymakers, leading experts and concerned citizens are all welcome to attend and contribute to the national conversation on what healthy ageing should look like for Canada. Register to Attend World Immunization Week 24-30 April 2019 The IFA joins the World Health Organization and partners around the world to recognize World Immunization Week. The Protected Together: Vaccines Work! campaign focuses on promoting the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. Immunization saves millions of lives every year and is recognized as one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective public health interventions. Join the conversation on twitter by using #WIW2019 #VaccinesWork and #ProtectedTogether Ophthalmology Policy Coalition 27 April 2019 Dr Jane Barratt will participate in an Ophthalmology Policy Coalition discussing Essentials Requirements Taskforce for AMD and DR Screening in Vancouver on 27 April 2019. This engagement directly supports the global outreach of the DR Barometer program/body of work in Canada.

"RIGHTS MATTER" 15th Global Conference on Ageing

Registration Now Open Submit an Abstract Browse Themes About Niagara Falls Pre-Conference Events

The countdown is on for the 15th Global Conference on Ageing. Registration is open, abstracts are being submitted and reviewed, over 20 conference partners have signed on and there are still 18 months to go before delegates return to Canada. In anticipation of this global event, the IFA is seeking expressions of interest from experts to conduct a six-hour Master Class on 31 October, 2020 (10am-4pm) at the Hilton Niagara Falls/ Fallsview Hotel in advance of the 15th Global Conference on Ageing.   This is an extraordinary opportunity for chosen experts to interactively engage in their work with an international audience. Master Classes are capped at an audience of 50 participants per class, however, should there be significant interest there may be the opportunity to increase the available space.    With space to host four Master Classes, the IFA will accept submissions that fall under the following categories: Ageism: The Final Frontier Inequalities, Diversity and Inclusion Work and Social Protection Long-Term Care: More than Bricks

Learn More About Master Class Expressions of Interest

LATIN AMERICA Latin American Adult Immunisation Advocacy Summit: Overcoming regional barriers to adult vaccination Read Report

Older adults in Latin America are at an increased risk of hospitalisation, ill health, catastrophic disability and death due to vaccine-preventable diseases such as influenza, herpes zoster, and pneumonia. The Latin American Adult Immunisation Advocacy Summit, held in Mexico City, gathered 40 experts in health, ageing and immunisation from 12 Latin American countries to explore good practices of adult vaccination, key country and regional barriers, and strategies to overcome these barriers. Delegates revealed the need for national financial commitment to fixed and irrevocable funding for universal vaccination and the urgent requirement for robust scientific, epidemiologic research in Latin American communities on the cost benefits of such coverage.

ASIA PACIFIC Ageing with strength: Addressing fragility fractures in Asia-Pacific Read Report

By 2050 Asia-Pacific will be home to 1.3 billion people older than 60. This growth will happen at a time when lifespans are also becoming longer. As a result, the region is expected to see an increase in diseases associated with age. Among them is osteoporosis, a condition that makes bones less dense and more fragile and can cause fragility, or low-impact, fractures—those that occur (often to the hip, spine or wrist) when someone falls from a standing height or lower. Osteoporosis is defined as having a bone mass density (BMD) 2.5 standard deviations below the average value of a young healthy woman. It is a disease that affects far more women than men, but the latter still account for about a fifth to a quarter of hip fragility fractures worldwide. What are the key challenges for osteoporosis patients in the APAC region and how are these affecting their daily lives? Download the report for more insights.

UPCOMING BOOK The Hospice Team: Who We Are and How We Care Pre-Order

Thinking and talking about the reality of death is daunting and scary, but this series of 21 essays from 9 disciplines of hospice care will demonstrate that the end of life can be filled with profound comfort and hope.  From the experiences of those who work in hospice—including physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, music therapists, volunteers, and more—you will be given an inside look into what hospice truly is and the many ways in which the hospice team cares for those who are approaching the end of life. The hospice team reflects an interdisciplinary team approach to caring, as well as the cultural, racial, and gender diversity of hospice personnel. These deeply personal, compelling, and honest accounts express a unifying theme of working as a team to lessen pain and suffering—physical, spiritual, emotional, familial—at a very vulnerable time for those in hospice and for their families and loved ones.