WHO people are supposed to age well

World Health Organization warns of consequences of the aging world population

06/11/2014

People around the world are getting older and older. As the World Health Organization (WHO) reports in Geneva, it can be assumed that in 2020, for the first time in human history, more people in the world will be over 60 than under the age of five. By 2050, even an increase in the over-60s from the current 841 million to more than two billion is to be expected, so the prognosis of the WHO. As a result, however, new strategies would have to be developed, because as a result of aging, societies would also be confronted with more and more sick and physically handicapped people.

For the first time in 2020, the proportion of over-60-year-olds exceeds that of under-5-year-olds
Humanity is getting older and older, so according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the over-60s could rise to more than two billion by 2050. However, even in the near future serious changes in the world population can be expected, with the proportion of older people already exceeding that of children under five in 2020, according to the WHO communication. So far, this development is mainly due to the decline in deaths from cardiovascular disease in the industrialized countries, according to Colin Mathers of the WHO in the journal „The Lancet“.

On „good aging“ requires fundamental reforms
However, a higher age is not expected to have positive consequences for WHO experts. Instead, it is to be feared that a higher age would also mean a higher number of sick and frail people and the over-60s could be affected in future by many cancers and lung, heart and muscle diseases. Another major problem researchers see in the increase in degenerative diseases, because „alone, the number of demented patients will triple by 2050, from 55 million today to about 135 million“, so the forecast in „The Lancet“. In view of this development, it is all the more important to scientists worldwide „good aging“ will be possible: „This means that fundamental reforms of health systems and social support systems will be needed“, explains John Beard of the WHO Department of Aging and Life Course.

Developments in individual countries must be taken into account
However, not only can it be acted globally, but it is also important to respond to the respective developments in the individual countries, according to Tis Boerma from the WHO Department of Health Statistics and Information in Geneva. „While some policies are internationally applicable, it is important for countries to monitor the condition and conditions of their elderly population in order to identify trends and adapt health programs to their circumstances.“ However, it is about much more than medical care, because in order to be able to offer improved living conditions for older people, chronic illnesses, for example, need to be avoided at an early stage through better care.

BzgA launches the program „Older people are getting in balance“
However, the problem here is often the data situation, because while in countries such as Brazil, China or India already investigations on the subject „aging society“ would exist, other regions still have a lot of catching up to do here. To help elderly people in this country „good aging“ to offer, the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) is currently the program „Older people are getting in balance“ started. This should help to live independently and fulfilled even in old age, so the BZgA director Elisabeth Pott: „We know that older people today want to live self-determined and independent. They want to stay mobile, participate in social life and shape their everyday lives.“

Movement activities as a central topic in the health promotion of older people
According to Pott, the focus of the new program is on promoting the health of older people through exercise, because „Recent research shows that exercise activities have a high health benefit even in advanced age.“ In this context, a bill was recently submitted by Federal Health Minister Hermann Gröhe (CDU), according to which about 510 million euros will be invested in health care in the future via the health and long-term care insurance. Among other things, the aim is to provide socially disadvantaged people with better access to preventive measures in order to be able to tackle obesity, physical inactivity, smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol. „Together, we must look beyond the costs usually associated with aging to recognize the benefits that older, healthier, happier, and more productive older populations can have on society as a whole“, so Dr. Somnath Chatterji from the WHO. (No)