United Nations Radio

Older Persons Day

October 1st is the International Day of Older Persons. UN Radio's Alicia Wood talked to Dr. John Beard, Director of the Department of Aging and Life Course with the World Health Organization in Geneva about the importance of valuing the elderly.

Wood: Do you think there is a difference in how different cultures approach ageing, and approach the value of older people to their societies?

Dr John Beard: Traditionally, most societies have tended to value their elders. But as we have developed, particularly more developed countries have tended to move more to a nuclear family, where older people aren't as integrated either physically in the household, or even socially with the family. Unfortunately, I think that tendency is now becoming evident in low and middle income countries, and countries for example in Asia where there used to be a very high emphasis placed on linking with older people, that trend seems to be waning.

Wood: On this theme of breaking down the barriers to older people being an asset to society, can you give me some examples of integration programs on different continents that are trying to get older people more involved?

Dr Beard: There's a wide range of programs, and they range from things such as trying to link older people with younger people, inter-generational programs. In Slovenia there are some exciting projects that are happening trying to strengthen those bonds which over the years have tended to become weaker. There is also, cities are looking at ways that they can allow older people to have access to different services, and better ways to contribute to decision making within the cities themselves.

Wood: What do you see as the dangers of not putting these programs through and not integrating older people into society?

Dr Beard: If we don't create a new way of thinking about ageing, one where we don't think that we just have a working life from 20 to 65 and that after that everybody gets put out to pasture in total retirement, if we don't look at ways of allowing people beyond those ages to continue in the workforce, to continue contributing constructively, we will end up with many, many dependent people in older age, and society can't afford that dependency. And not only that, that dependency is obviously not the best outcome for older people themselves. So, it's absolutely crucial that communities look at ways of encouraging older people to continue to contribute actively to their communities.

Producer: Alicia Wood
Duration: 2'05"