SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION DISCUSSES PROPOSALS FOR OBTAINING INFORMATION ON OLDER PERSONS

Press Release
SOC/4437

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION DISCUSSES PROPOSALS FOR OBTAINING INFORMATION ON OLDER PERSONS

Speakers called for the development of a database on the ageing to house demographic data, as well as information on national policies and programmes, as the Commission for Social Development this morning took up the Secretary- General's report on options for future monitoring of the 1982 International Action Plan on Ageing.

Supporting the Secretary-General's proposal to create such a database on the Internet, the representative of the United Kingdom, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said international age-related data would be of great use in formulating national efforts to improve the situation of the elderly. He called for further research on the feasibility of a database and the inclusion of information from other United Nations and non-United Nations bodies.

A great number of people worldwide had access to the Internet, and that medium should be put to use, said the representative of the United States. The database, as well as an ageing-related development index, should be created and made relevant to countries at all stages of development. That measure was preferable to revising the Plan of Action or undertaking expensive household surveys, which were also proposed in the Secretary-General's report.

Supporting the establishment of a permanent database of public policies on ageing to be available on the Internet, the representative of the Republic of Korea said, however, he did not favour the idea of conducting household surveys because obtaining reliable statistical information would be both time consuming and costly. The representative of Jamaica, on the other hand, supported the use of household surveys to collect data on the elderly. She said surveys were a useful instrument for obtaining information, especially for developing countries that lacked an organized census.

Also this morning, several speakers stressed the important role played by families in caring for the elderly. Austria's representative said her Government was providing support to families that cared for their elderly and for the "sandwich generation", which provided services for both the very young and the very old. Some 90 per cent of older persons who required care lived at home, she added.

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In the Philippines, nearly 70 per cent of the elderly lived with their families, that country's representative said. However, new demographic trends, including changing family size and outward migration, threatened the existing family structure. The Government was striving to respond to changing realities.

In addition, the Commission heard an oral report on the work of the Ad Hoc Support Group on Ageing. The Dominican Republic's representative said the Group had served as a clearing house for States, non-governmental organizations and United Nations bodies to share experiences related to the upcoming International Year of Older Persons (1999). The Group should be changed to an advisory group, she said. It could become a forum in which interested bodies might discuss proposals for the Year. The coordinators of the Group had prepared a draft decision reflecting that proposal.

The representatives of Spain, China, Lithuania, Guatemala, Finland and Norway also spoke, as did representatives of the American Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons and of the International Right to Life.

The Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, John Langmore, introduced the Secretary-General's report on implementing the International Plan of Action on Ageing.

The Commission is scheduled to meet again at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 17 February, to hold a panel discussion on enhancing social protection and reducing vulnerability.

Commission Work Programme

The Commission for Social Development met this morning to continue its consideration of the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen, 1995), including the activities of the Ad Hoc Support Group on Ageing. (For background information on the session, see Press Release SOC/4430 of 9 February.)

Statements

JOHN LANGMORE, Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, introduced the Secretary-General's report on options for the future implementation of the International Plan on Ageing. The Secretary-General had recommended that the Plan's review and appraisal continue every five years after 2005. Further, those reviews should be complemented by a report on the world situation on ageing. Other recommendations included the preparation of a database and an ageing-related index, if sufficient funding was available.

An expert meeting had been held in collaboration with the Division for the Advancement of Women and the International Institute on Ageing, he continued. Held in Malta during November-December 1997, the meeting had focused on care- giving, with a particular focus on the gender dimension. The report of that meeting would be issued shortly.

JULIA TAVARES DE ALVAREZ (Dominican Republic) briefed the Commission on the work of the Ad Hoc Support Group on Ageing. Three sessions had been held during the past year. The Group had served as a clearing house for States, non-governmental organizations and United Nations bodies to share experiences related to preparing for the upcoming International Year of Older Persons (1999). The Group had addressed themes of primary significance during the upcoming Year. Among the presentations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had described to the Group a global intergenerational conference it was planning.

During the past year, an average of some 30-odd delegations had participated in the work of the support group, she said. Non-governmental organizations had participated on a sustained level, as had other organizations and agencies of the United Nations system. Developed and developing countries had expressed common concerns regarding older persons. The need to take into consideration the unique circumstances of rural and urban aged persons had been stressed.

The Commission should consider the possibility of enhancing the Group's status, she said. It might be a body in which, above and beyond exchanging experiences, States and interested bodies might discuss proposals for the Year. That expanded mandate would then facilitate the Commission's work

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towards the Year. The Group could be renamed Advisory Group for the International Year of Older Persons. The coordinators of the Group had prepared a draft decision reflecting that proposal; the text would be circulated later today.

PETER GOODERHAM (United Kingdom), speaking for the European Union and Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Cyprus, welcomed the statement made by Under-Secretary- General for Economic and Social Affairs Nitin Desai on the reorganization of his Department and the opportunities for better synergies that it offers. The European Union believed that those changes offered a unique opportunity to make better use of the existing information, expertise, statistics and research, and technical assistance. There was also a need for better synergy between the various Economic and Social Council commissions and the need for cohesion in their work to utilize different sources of information.

He added that the option to make use of age-related data was particularly interesting. The UNDP proposal to include such data in future editions of the Human Development Report was also important. Further guidance should be sought on how feasible that was, given the requirement for high quality data to ensure comparability over a number of years. Such information should be used to develop a database of policies and programmes on ageing. That approach might also be appropriate for training and other capacity-building approaches to improve the likelihood of collecting comparable data in the future. Other non-United Nations organizations that collect demographic information should also be utilized.

DAVID HOHMAN (United States) said his country would compile a complete and easily accessible catalogue of all federal programmes and services that relate to older people. It was also planning a government-wide conference on aging in 1999. That would be a future-oriented conference to prepare for an ageing society in the twenty-first century. The United States was also developing strategies to use television and other media to provide for a discussion of topics related to older citizens and to educate all Americans about the contributions of older people.

He welcomed the Secretary-General's report on the issue of ageing, noting the low participation of countries in the monitoring exercise. That response did not reflect the true importance governments gave to the issue of ageing. Rather, the low response was due to problems with the questionnaire that was not user- friendly. Revising the Plan of Action was not the solution to increasing participation, nor was undertaking expensive household surveys. Instead, an Internet-based database of policies and programmes relevant to countries at all stages of development should be developed. The United States would also support the elaboration of an aging-related development index.

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EVELINE HONIGSPERGER, of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Youth and Family Affairs of Austria, associated herself with the statement made for the European Union. Policies concerning older persons should not be limited to financial contributions for health care and pensions. Instead, they should include the entire socio-political spectrum, which would require that ageing became a cross-cutting theme at the federal, provincial and local levels.

Austria's Federal Ministry for the Environment, Youth and Family Affairs was taking responsibility for issues related to intergenerational solidarity, she said. A federally appointed national committee would be charged with preparing for the International Year, and the grass-roots level would also be involved. The following issues had been identified as priorities for future action: a new culture of ageing; healthy old age; social and political participation of older persons; home care and nursing; old age and housing.

Austria was planning conferences and seminars to enrich the country's ageing policies, she said. Among the issues to be considered was the situation of the "sandwich generation", which provided services for both the very young and the very old. Also, the burden borne by middle-aged women would be addressed. Some 90 per cent of old people who were in need of care lived at home. Support for families caring for their elderly would thus be another priority. Within that context, problems related to patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease would be given particular attention. A postal stamp would be printed to commemorate the Year, she added.

JESUS NORBERTO FERNANDEZ MUÑOZ, of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Spain, supported the statement made for the Union. Spain was keenly interested in the ageing of its population. The country had some 6.2 million ageing persons out of a total population of roughly 40 million; the elderly comprised 15.6 per cent of the country's citizens. Spain had established a universal pension system, by which income was guaranteed for persons over 65 years of age. Basic health care had been universalized, and free pharmaceutical supplies were available for all elderly persons.

An elderly oriented social services network had been set up, which involved a wide range of activities, including assisted in-house living, he continued. In 1992, the country had adopted a National Gerontological Plan to advance all those programmes. The timetable and chief objectives for the Year would be announced on 1 October, which was the International Day of Older Persons.

A National Committee to Coordinate the International Year would have a secretariat, and would work through plenaries and standing committees, he continued. Activities would include seminars and symposia to address the situation of older persons, and promote international relations. Efforts would be directed towards consciousness-raising for school aged persons and those approaching retirement. The rural elderly, some 34 per cent of the

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country's older persons, would receive particular attention. Special events would be held in conjunction with agricultural groups. A new gerontological plan would be launched for the period of 1999-2005, focusing on programmes to increase social participation of elderly persons; encourage people to grow old at home; and promote favourable treatment for care-giving families.

SU JINGHUA (China) said that people 60 years of age and over in his country now numbered more than 120 million -- or 9.7 per cent of the national population -- a figure that was increasing at an annual rate of 3.2 per cent. In two years, the aged were expected to total more than 130 million and that figure was expected to rise to more than 400 million by the middle of the next century, making at least 25 per cent of the population an "older" person. The State Council had appointed a deputy premier to be responsible for ageing affairs, and established the China National Committee on Ageing, to administer related affairs.

He said that in 1997 the Government promulgated the Law of the People's Republic of China on Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly, which comprehensively stipulates the rights of the elderly. To put the law into practice, governments at various levels had set up agencies to provide legal and practical services to the elderly. Other steps that had been taken included the Programme for the Development of Ageing Work in China, 1994-2000, part of whose objective was ensuring that the elderly had access to medical care and opportunities for their own pursuits. In addition, welfare programmes for the elderly were executed as part of the national economic and social development plan in a number of provinces and cities.

Concerning the International Year of Older Persons in 1999, he cited a few programmes, some of which began in 1997. For example, he said, in the Helping the Older Persons Project, the China Fund for the Elderly had provided assistance to more than 6,000 poor elderly people. In April 1998, awards for excellence would be presented to: children who respected and supported elderly parents; elderly people who had made outstanding contributions since their retirement; and cadres working on behalf of older persons. Other programmes included a television show, symposia, exhibitions, a stamp issue, and the training of staff working in the field of ageing.

VIOLETA MURAUSKAITE, Head of the Social Work and Social Services Division of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of Lithuania, said economic and political reforms, as well as the radical restructuring of public institutions, in Lithuania, had worsened the standard of living of some social groups, including the elderly. In order to allow its citizens to consider themselves full and equal participants in society, her Government's policies aimed to draw attention to the most characteristic economic, social, medical and psychological problems facing elderly people. Such problems had not yet been dealt with fully.

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The problem of social assistance had become more pressing as the number of elderly persons had increased in Lithuania, she said. New ways were being sought to decrease expenditures for care and assistance to the elderly. New methods to make assistance more humane were also being pursued, including the decentralization of care services. The newly adopted Law on Social Services required municipalities to establish and organize those services to residents within their territories. Although social services were available in all municipalities, more attention was given to care services at in-patient institutions, which were few and not accessible to all elderly citizens.

The Lithuanian Catholic Church was very active in organizing care services for the elderly, she continued. It had already established 33 parish homes. Non-governmental organizations had also started to pay more attention to supplying care for the elderly. Yet, the scope of services available depended on the financial capabilities of the municipalities, which were rather limited. Therefore, new forms of assistance to the elderly had been introduced, such as day-care centres. Informal care and assistance remained the most dominant form in Lithuania, but most families were not able or could not afford to take care of their vulnerable members without assistance from the State.

JULIO ARMANDO MARTINI HERRERA (Guatemala) said his Government welcomed all efforts that promoted the dignity of older persons, who were the repositories for social values. The elderly among indigenous groups had a particularly important role to play. Guatemala was constantly striving, within resource constraints, to develop policies that promoted full social participation by older persons. Those efforts involved close collaboration among the State, older persons, and other social actors.

In 1985, the Government had set up a National Committee for the Protection of the Aged, he said. In 1996, the Congress had adopted a law on the protection of older persons. Both initiatives sought to strengthen the national machinery working for the benefit of older persons. Other practical measures had recently been adopted. As part of the Attorney-General's Office, an office for older persons sought to ensure that their rights were respected. Social services had been expanded to include the rural populations, and research on the abuse of the elderly was being undertaken.

He supported the Secretary-General's suggestion to revise the Action Plan for the Ageing to tune it to current social realities, as well as the idea of appraising implementation of the Plan every five years beginning in 2005. The time had come for the Support Group to become an advisory group. That new designation would strengthen it and enable it to enhance the international community's preparation for the International Year of Older Persons.

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AINO-INKERI HANSSON (Finland) said the number of ageing people was growing globally and the impact of such demographic changes on society must be foreseen, monitored and assessed carefully at the national and international levels. There was also a need for further discussion on the future reviews and appraisals of elderly programmes. The first decade of the millennium would involve a particular challenge for Finland's ageing policy. The baby- boom generation would reach retirement age at the turn of the century and, although older persons should be healthier in the future, the growing number of ageing people and their increased life expectancy would increase the need for services.

She said that Finland had prepared in 1996 an Ageing Policy Strategy and Action Plan based on principles in United Nations and other declarations concerning older persons. The plan contained measures to safeguard services at home and in neighbourhoods. It also addressed housing facilities that met people's individual needs and provided a good living environment. It also attempted to maintain the working and functional capacity of the baby-boom generation and appreciation of older employees in working life.

ANNE SOFIE TROSDAHL ORAUG (Norway) said her country found the proposal of an Internet database for ageing information interesting, but it should not overlap other existing databases. It should function as an idea bank for various countries. Ageing populations represented an increasing challenge to social polices in most counties. With that in mind, the Government welcomed the decision to designate 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons. Norway's preparation for that Year included the establishment of a steering committee with representatives from the government sector and non-governmental organizations. That committee would stimulate and coordinate activities throughout the year.

VIOLETA V. DAVID (Philippines) supported the Secretary-General's recommendations to streamline the appraisal process for implementing the Plan of Action for the Ageing. Regarding the proposed database, she said it might be useful to look closer at Member States' capabilities to collect and process data at the national level. The Commission should also look into strengthening countries' capacity for data collection. She welcomed the elaboration of an ageing-related index.

The Philippines' traditional culture involved a close-knit inter- generational family structure, she said. Only about 4 per cent of the country's elderly lived alone, while nearly 70 per cent lived with their families. Demographic trends, including reduced family size and outward migration, posed threats to the existing family structure. In 1981, in recognition of those trends, the Government had begun to address the concerns of the elderly. Significant strides had been taken to include the elderly in the development mainstream. Efforts included the partnering of non-governmental organizations with governmental bodies to organize elderly persons at the grass-roots level.

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To celebrate the upcoming International Year of Older Persons, a task force had been created under the Department of Social Welfare and Development, she said. The task force would consist of persons from the public and private sector, as well as actors from civil society. As part of its overall goal of increasing public awareness, the task force planned to disseminate information on elderly related legislation and increase knowledge about the contributions of older persons.

YOUNG SAM MA (Republic of Korea) said that as demographics shifted, lifelong experiences and knowledge should be used to the benefit of all persons. The contributions of elderly persons must be appreciated, while tangible efforts were called for to enhance their self-sufficiency. Every person had the right to live with dignity throughout his life. Narrow-minded focus on profit was often a root cause of social exclusion. The full participation of older persons in society was both a moral and a practical matter. The role of education in social integration could not be overstated. Education must begin at home; the value of multi-generational relationships could be part of life at home. In addition, the media should do more to educate people on the issue.

Turning next to the Secretary-General's suggestions for reviewing the methods of appraising implementation of the Action Plan on Ageing, he said he supported the development of an ageing-related index. Another useful endeavour would be the establishment of a permanent database of public policies on ageing, to be available on the Internet. However, he did not favour the idea of conducting household surveys because obtaining reliable statistical information would be both time consuming and costly. The Secretary-General's suggestion of focusing on priority areas within the 2020 perspective plan was welcome. A questionnaire should not be used to review efforts to implement the Plan on Ageing because such texts could be interpreted differently and subjectively.

A representative of the American Association of Retired Persons said the Commission should explore ageing in terms of its theme of social integration and participation. A society for all ages meant integrating all participants in society, including the older persons. The changing demographics challenged all nations to seek out the benefits older persons could offer society. If they were not utilized and appreciated, then they would become a burden that no country could afford. Societies must also work towards the eradication of stereotypes of all groups, which only marginalized and excluded people. In creating development policies, all voices must be heard. That was essential to creating a society for all ages. A representative of the International Right To Life said her organization was dedicated to the protection of human life before and after birth and it was especially concerned with the treatment and situation of older persons in society. There was an increasing trend of denying basic services such as health care to people based on age or disability. The Commission should address that issue in its discussions.

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Follow-up Comments on Debate on Ageing

The representative of Jamaica noted the Austrian representative's comment that policies for older persons must go beyond health care and filter into overall socio-political consideration. Representatives from Spain and the Philippines had highlighted the importance of the family in caregiving. The Commission should give careful consideration to the implications of those points.

She then drew attention to the gender difference in life expectancy. Women lived longer than men, resulting in the fact that a number of households contained only women. The Commission must consider how to ensure gender balance in life expectancy. The matter was partly related to health, and perhaps targeted efforts were needed to educate men in that area. She disagreed with the representative from the Republic of Korea regarding household surveys. She considered them a useful instrument for obtaining information, especially in developing countries that lacked a comprehensive census. She asked for further clarification from the United States' representative regarding the proposed Internet database.

The representative of the United States said he was interested in establishing a site on the Internet. A great number of people worldwide had access to that medium, and it should be put to use. He advocated entering as much information into the databases as possible. Related websites could be linked.

The representative of the United Kingdom stressed the importance of including the gender dimension in the Commission's work.

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