Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: - HelpAge International

Chapter 2:
A fresh look at evidence
This chapter starts by describing the vital role that older people play in
society. It then analyses the situation of older persons in three areas and
highlights the challenges: income security, health and enabling environments.
It provides examples of how these challenges are addressed in developing
and developed countries, and includes responses from older persons who
participated in the consultations for this report.
A vital role in society
Peter Caton/HelpAge International
“A society for all ages encompasses the goal of providing
older persons with the opportunity to continue contributing
to society.” (Madrid Plan, para. 19)
The Madrid Plan points out that older persons across the
world make a vast contribution to society. It explicitly
calls for the recognition of their contribution and for
the inclusion of older persons in decision-making
processes at all levels. 1 Older persons contribute both
financially and in many ways that are not measured
in economic terms – as mediators, educators, workers,
volunteers, homemakers and caregivers, as sources of
knowledge and historical memory, and as guardians
of culture. Increasingly, older generations are becoming
active in political processes, forming their own
organizations and campaigning for change. Older
persons in rural areas often have expert knowledge
of farming practices, including ways of coping with
environmental shocks and food shortages, which may
be crucial for the survival of rural communities in
times of crisis.
Although some progress has been achieved in enabling
older persons to actively participate in society and
in recognizing their contributions, there are still
important challenges. In spite of the growing
recognition of the role of older persons in society,
there is still a long way to go. In many areas, older
men and women are still seen as dependants, and as a
burden to society. Social participation is still low and
mechanisms to enhance it are still not well developed.
In addition, it must be recognized that social
participation is not possible for all older persons.
Increasing disability may minimize the possibilities of
being socially active. The challenge lies in how to
ensure at least some level of interaction that avoids
isolation and promotes more communication with peers
and families, even in the presence of disabilities.
Social and cultural contributions:
Caregiving and volunteering
It is in the area of childcare that older people, especially
older women, make a particularly vital contribution.
Families all over the world rely on grandparents to care
for children so that parents can work, or to take on sole
care of children whose parents have died. Older men
and women involved in consultations for this report felt
that caregiving was one of their main contributions.
For example, a study of Bolivian migrants who moved to
Spain found that 69 per cent left their children at home,
usually with grandparents. 2 In rural China, grandparents
care for 38 per cent of children aged under five whose
parents have gone to work in cities. 3 In one town in
Colombia, around a third of internally displaced older
persons are responsible for caring for grandchildren. 4
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