World Health Organisation. Definition of an Older or Elderly Person
Life expectancy in the Region has increased by an average of 21.6 years over the past 60 years and will continue to increase as the century progresses. The octogenarians of the second half of this century were already born, underscoring the importance of a significant investment in population health across the life course (discussed in more detail in the section “Building Health Across the Lifespan”) (Figure 4). At the biological level, aging results from the effects of the accumulation of a variety of molecular and cellular damage over time. This leads to a gradual decrease in physical and mental performance, an increasing risk of illness and ultimately death. These changes are neither linear nor consistent, and they are only vaguely related to a person`s age in years. The diversity observed in the elderly is not accidental. Beyond biological changes, aging is often associated with other life transitions such as retirement, moving to a more suitable apartment, and the death of friends and partners. Subgroup analysis comparing age definitions of hip fractures and studies other than hip fractures In addition, WHO points out that this diversity problem can result from inequalities, understood as the different influences of factors such as genetics, gender, ethnicity and environment on ageing [8]. These inequalities should be reduced in order to support the implementation of a healthy ageing agenda. There is an urgent need to redefine the approach to health care for older adults in order to improve or maintain their ability to function. WHO plans to develop guidelines and tools for primary care providers and health systems.
10. World Health Organization. World Report on Ageing and Health. Beard JR, Officer A, Cassels A, eds. Geneva: World Health Organization;2015. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a definition of healthy ageing. It is the process of developing and maintaining functional capacity that enables well-being in older adults [4,5]. Aligning health systems with intrinsic capacity and functioning requires sustainably funded services, cooperation across sectors, and health and social systems to promote healthy ageing. Access to care and support services for older adults requires significant efforts to fund, create and implement mechanisms to provide quality care. Overall, the next 5 years will require cooperation between Member States, international development organizations, the scientific community and all sectors of society, which will need to test various approaches to promote health and functioning in a diverse and rapidly ageing population.
Much of the investment to promote healthy ageing will also directly benefit other population groups and aim to strengthen a country`s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. For example, intersectoral leadership will ensure that all measures to improve healthy ageing promote the ability of older persons to make diverse contributions in an environment that respects their dignity and human rights, free from discrimination based on gender and age, and promotes social, political and economic inclusion for all, regardless of age. Within this framework, the rights of older persons will become an important driver for the achievement of regional goals on sustainable development, human rights and universal access to health. The Inter-American Convention for the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons, which was concluded at 45. Recognizes the need to address the issues of age and ageing from a human rights perspective, provides a framework for addressing and ensuring these rights, and stresses the need to eliminate all forms of age discrimination in the Americas. The topic of long-term care is very complex because it should be person-centred and integrated. Person-centred care recognizes the heterogeneity of experiences in old age and involves older adults in the development of key issues. It allows older adults to decide which measures are right for them, rather than imposing decisions that are perceived as the most appropriate from the caregivers` point of view. Interventions should be tailored to individuals and their performance levels in order to optimize their intrinsic and functional abilities.