The number of older people within the population pyramid is growing day by day. The magazine Nature On 5 October, it published a study on maximum human longevity. And it has caused such a stir that it has even made it onto the online front pages of the mainstream press. In Catalonia, it has been published El Periódico y La Vanguardia. The study in question provides some very interesting data on ageing, and puts the maximum lifespan at 115 years.
Throughout the 20th century, there was a great the rise in life expectancy, which has increased over the last 30 years due to a number of factors. Medical advances, social improvements in occupational safety, a greater focus on hygiene… And, ultimately, an increase in self-care amongst the population as a whole are good examples of this. The World Health Organisation (WHO) This was the finding of a recent study. By 2050, one in three Spaniards will be over 65.
This trend has a number of implications to bear in mind: on the one hand, it will mean restructure the entire social security and pensions system. In short, to adapt to the social reality that lies ahead. On the other hand, to have the social services y attendance necessary to ensure a good quality of life for the entire elderly population. And finally, from an urban planning perspective, we must bear in mind that cities should aim to become ‘age inclusive’. And we must be aware that, these days, there are many obstacles for older people. Underground stations without lifts, entrances to public buildings with lots of stairs… Even traffic lights, which change from green to red in a timeframe that is too short for people with mobility issues.
With all this information on the table, we believe that from the self-care sector We need to keep up to date with the latest trends relating to ageing. That’s why, here on the GTF blog, we’d like to talk today about a couple of very interesting projects for older people. Firstly, the initiative An Age-Friendly World the WHO, on the one hand, and, on the other, the Radars Project from Barcelona (the ‘Radares’ project, in Spanish).
Age-Friendly World, an international project to improve the quality of life for older people
Age-Friendly World (AFC) It is a project set up by the WHO. It provides recommendations for tackling the specific needs of the older segment of the population. It currently operates in 32 countries and covers up to 124 million people worldwide. One of the programme’s most interesting initiatives is that it includes the Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities. To date, there are 314 cities that follow the WHO’s recommendations for adapting their public spaces on a day-to-day basis. It also has 11 affiliated programmes, one of which is in Spain: the Age-Friendly Cities, organised by IMSERSO and the Ministry of Health through a partnership agreement with the WHO.
A local source of support for older people: the Projecte Radars
We would also like to talk about the Radars Project, a local initiative in the city of Barcelona, which aims to “to reduce loneliness and the risk of social isolation and exclusion”. This project involves a wide range of volunteers: chemists, local residents and shopkeepers. And its mission is to make it easier for the people aged 75 and over can continue to live independently in their own homes. All these social workers act as a sort of early warning system, keeping an eye on the daily routines of the older people in their community, and in a “respectful of your privacy”, they notify social services by telephone or email of any changes to their daily routines, or if there are signs that they may need some kind of help.