• Old and Forgotten: The Crisis of Africa’s Elderly

    Old and Forgotten: The Crisis of Africa’s Elderly

    Africa is currently the most youthful continent in the world. At least 35 per cent of its more than one billion population is between the ages of 15 and 35. While investing in the youth is a priority for the continent’s transformation, the elderly should not be forgotten. As Africa’s…

  • The Threat of Food Insecurity Among the Elderly in the U.S. and Beyond

    In 2012, 1.1 million (9.1 percent) U.S. senior citizens living independently were considered food insecure. This number is expected to increase by 50 percent in 2025 as the U.S. population continues to age. Data reported by American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) described increases in the number of older adults…

  • Sweden: A Role Model for Elderly Care

    As mentioned in previous blog entries, worldwide, countries are facing challenges due to aging. By 2050, the elderly will outnumber children under the age of 15, mostly in developing countries. So, reforms for more cost-effective health care systems for elderly’s long-term care are becoming more and more important. Sweden is…

  • Women in India – Longevity, Health Disparities and Empowerment

    Being over 65 years and living in India is an increasingly common phenomenon. The Indian population over 65 years is steadily on the rise, totaling to a whopping 90 million people in 2011. Estimates suggest that this number will exceed 227 million by 2050. Within this giant aging population, there…

  • A Comparative View of Elder Abuse in Israel and the United States

    A Comparative View of Elder Abuse in Israel and the United States

    I spend every Tuesday morning visiting a dear friend at a local nursing home. My friend is a Holocaust survivor and at 90 years old, her mind is sharp since she easily recounts the story of her life – from the horrors of the camps to the beauty of Israel…

  • Aging, Health, and Social Networks

    Aging, Health, and Social Networks

    Across the globe, nearly every country of the world is experiencing population aging. According to the United Nations, the number of people aged 60 years or older is expected to increase to more than 2 billion by 2050. While this shift in demographics carries implications for the social and economic…

  • Quality of Life for Elders: Lessons from South Africa and Bolivia

    Quality of Life for Elders: Lessons from South Africa and Bolivia

    Last year, the Global AgeWatch Index published a report on the quality of life for elders in 91 nations. The report included several factors such as income security, health and well-being, employment and education. African nations did not fare well. South Africa was the highest ranked African nation at number…

  • Singapore: Prevention is Better Than Cure

    Singapore: Prevention is Better Than Cure

    As we all know, in today’s world, people have longer life expectancies. In fact, 75% of the world’s population is older than 60 years of age (WHO). We live longer but the fact is the fact is that we are not aging very well. Once we reach a certain age,…

  • June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month

    June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month

    June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Worldwide, there are at least 44.4 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia’s. Dementia is a non-communicable disease and one of the main health challenges for the elderly in continents such as Africa and Asia. The current health systems of these…