October 1: International Day of Older Persons

October 1, 2020

Every year, October 1 is celebrated as the International Day of Older Persons. The day is celebrated by the United Nations and several other organizations all over the world. This year, 2020, marks the 30^th anniversary of International Day of Older Persons.

Also, the 2020 observance is to promote “Decade of Healthy Ageing” (2020-2030).

Highlights

The 2020 International Day of Older Persons will highlight the role of health care professionals towards health of older persons. This year is also marked as “Year of the Nurse and Midwife”. The United Nations is to discuss five strategic objectives of Global Strategy and Action Plan on Ageing and Health this year.

Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals aims “To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being of all at all ages.”

Background

In 1990, the United Nations designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons. In 1982, Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing was adopted. In 1991, United Nations Principles for Older Persons was adopted. Later in 2002, the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing was adopted.

Significance

Between 1950 and 2010, life expectancy world wide rose from 46 years to 68 years. There were more than 703 million persons over the age of 65 till 2019. The regions that had the highest number of older people are south-eastern and Eastern Asia. These regions are followed by North America and Europe.

In next three decades, the number of older people are to increase by double reaching 1.5 billion. The largest increase is to occur in Eastern and South Eastern Asia.