THE COVID COLLISION
The COVID-19 pandemic has spectacularly collided with major global megatrends.
Image Global Coalition on Ageing
It is widely recognised that climate change, population-ageing, and digital innovation are deep policy challenges to be addressed at all levels for the good of all. Efforts to tackle these intersecting issues are however intricately imploded by the pandemic demand on resources. The impact of each challenge is affecting international relations, sparking collaborative scientific innovation, exacerbating poverty, and further disrupting political security, while the planet burns, Elders die, refugees seek havens, and floods wreak havoc.
Picking up the pieces and putting together a new comprehensive agenda is everybody’s business. There is an emergent and urgent opportunity for strong inspiring ethical and moral leadership at all levels of society. It is the vulnerable who suffer and die in the midst of this crash scene.
The collision has caused a withdrawal from everyday life patterns including the workplace and fostered zoomed decision-making processes. Social isolation has taken on a new meaning as streets and public places become empty of all but the homeless and brave amid those driven by anger to protest at a myriad of perceived and real interconnected layers of social, economic, religious and political injustice. Everyone knows that some big decisions need to be made in a hurry. Will they get made in time, by whom and will they be brave enough to set a sustainable stage for action.
Everyone feels the fear of this complex global insecurity. Blame is not the game now. New Zealanders are so very grateful to their leaders.
The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated systemic failures and the great human capacity for responsiveness and compassion in health care. The megatrend indicators are clearly evident. Fires, pollution fog, floods, and food supply are dire indicators of rapid climate change. A global call out to combat ageism is symptomatic of a need for attitudes, workplace and policy frameworks to understand, respect longevity and policy responsiveness to the demographic transformation. The digital divide has occurred as the race for productive supremacy and profit efficiency marches on creating extreme wealth amid the ravages of hunger and homelessness.
Action on these critical issues is pursued in international diplomacy, while nation-states tread in ideological frames and many people in communities seek to make small but valuable changes count amid the many influences of a COVID-ravaged world. It is not yet possible to see whether the collision will impact ideological power and position a vital new frame for enhancing ecosystems and humanitarian good.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. It is the only thing that has. Margaret Mead
Carole Gordon MNMZ
January 2022
COVID AND LONGER LIVES:
COMBATTING AGEISM - CREATING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
Global action is underway to combat ageism, since the COVID-19 crisis exposed systemic age-based discrimination and disparities in social protection and healthcare.
Ageism occurs in both discourse on, and responses to the pandemic in societies worldwide. Elders have been subjected to increased stigma, isolation and loneliness as well as violations of their basic rights to health, life and protection. We need to ensure that their invisibility is overcome by deliberate inclusive action.
The pandemic has affected Elder lives at a time of human endeavour when living longer is a real possibility for more people, where the achievement of longevity is a new phenomenon that demands new policy frameworks and ecosystems that enable living longer well. The COVID-19 reset offers a unique opportunity to rebalance and revigorate societal values for social cohesion and inclusion in a context of macro post-pandemic economic, environmental, geopolitical societal and technological complexity. To, according to the World Economic Forum, “move the agenda forward on some of the most critical issues we face.”
Many Elders have died from COVID-19. This alarming phenomenon has prompted strong responses from the United Nations and World Health Organisation as the Decade for Healthy Ageing gets underway. The World Economic Forum has published a Covid and Longer Lives 2020 report to support wider understanding and create momentum on action to combat ageism. Further, the WHO has initiated a Global Challenge to Combat Ageism. The programme is at the core of social and economic efforts to harness the opportunities that population-ageing and increasing longevity bring. It recognises that rapidly ageing countries and communities must address social cohesion and “leave no one behind.”
The year 2022 has begun with a new pandemic variant Omicron, which has rapid rates of infection. Despite efforts to contain and prevent virus spread with high rates of immunisation in New Zealand, Elders in care are still contracting COVID -19 and dying. There is insufficient protection within the privatised care systems. In the recent week, acknowledging other health conditions, all five national deaths were people over the age of 60 years. WHO suggests that while the pandemic is exposing dysfunction and fragility in many systems, it also presents us with an opportunity to build a new normal. It suggests that to achieve the vision for longer healthier lives, then, multistakeholder collaboration is even more critical.
The Decade of Healthy Ageing is a relevant opportunity to bring focus and action on four key areas that will enhance Elder wellbeing:
1 Changing how we think, feel and act towards age and ageing
2 Developing communities in ways that foster the abilities of older people.
3 Delivering person-centred integrated care and primary health services that are responsive to older people
4 Providing older people access to long term care when they need it.
The Framing Longevity Project holds a clear focus on the Decade's first key action in a collaborative initial effort for change in the Bay of Plenty, Aotearoa New Zealand.
Carole Gordon MNZM
February 2022
INTEGRATING FUTURE GOOD
INCLUDING POPULATION AGEING AND LONGEVITY IN THE SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA
Here is a chart prepared by the UN that most helpfully aligns planning and policy shifts to embrace the change needed for ecosystems to become more age-friendly given the structural ageing of populations. The improvements will enable older people to live and thrive in more sustainable neighborhoods and cities.
Carole Gordon MNZM
February 2022
FACING CHALLENGES IN CHALLENGING TIMES
Population ageing is a significant global achievement.
“Longer lives open up possibilities to continue being and doing what we value. However, broad societal changes will be required to maximise these possibilities.”
UN Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020-2030
The Framing Longevity Project is a response to the impact of COVID-19 on Elders. However the intersecting discrimination exacerbated by the pandemic are attitudinal and systemic. The issues impact on the health, social and economic wellbeing of generations. The project reflects the goals of the UN Decade, WHO Combatting Ageing Challenge, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and New Zealand Better Later Life, He Oranga Kaumatua Strategy. As an initiative, this project provides a relevant opportunity to integrate ageism as an integral aspect of managing todays key challenges. We cannot successfully achieve social inclusion equity without this critical understanding.
www.framinglongevity.com
Here is a link to a valuable strategic document for all leaders and influencers.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Policy Brief on ‘mainstreaming ageing’ details how to integrate ageing into policies at all levels of governance to create societies that benefit all ages. It reviews recent advances in this field and calls for action to make the integration of ageing into broader policy agendas more systematic. The Brief recognises that population ageing has social and economic implications for which societies need to prepare. This requires a coordinated, whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort to bring societies and economies into harmony with demographic change, otherwise known as "mainstreaming ageing".
The Brief highlights seven key "enablers":
1 Political and executive leadership for mainstreaming ageing
2 A strategy for mainstreaming ageing
3 Strengthened governance structures and mechanisms for effective horizontal and vertical inter-institutional coordination
4 Agreed procedures and processes for age-sensitive analysis, such as regulatory impact assessments and age responsive budgeting.
5 Capacity development for mainstreaming ageing.
6 Enhanced awareness, data collection and analysis to inform policy.
7 participatory policy making.
UNECE Policy Brief-WG.1-39PB27pdf
Carole Gordon MNZM
March 2022
URGENT POLICY RESET
COVID-19 AND OMICRON HAVE EXACERBATED A NEED FOR FOCUS NOW
The combined global health and social crisis continue to deepen pre-existing structural and social inequities that require urgent action.
It is time New Zealand reshaped policies in response to the impact of population-ageing and longevity within the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, technology and economic reset.
New Zealand is an exemplar in manageing the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike most OECD nations, however, New Zealand has undervalued and largely ignored the demographic transition that is affecting our cultural, social, economic and political stability.
Resting on a platform of universal National Superannuation is insufficient in a climate of generational difference, age diversity, segregation, social isolation, housing
crisis, poor urban development, known increased health-care demand, deficit age view-shafts and narratives, a digital divide, gendered social inequality, homogenised data and dependency. All have a concatenating influence.
Social systems, economic policies, housing, urban and transport environments, business practice and social norms have not sufficiently evolved to frame an ecosystem for healthy purposeful later and longer lives.
Nor does the current scenario vision lifespan trust or wellbeing for future generations.
The impact of a decreasing birthrate and workforce together with a higher proportion of people living longer are major influencers, not only on the market, but vital for sustainable systemic policy change. Lead Boomer have already reached 75 years. The number of Elders 75-100+ will double ( 2018-2034) from 315,000to 608,000 (MSD2020) Soon there will nationally be more Elders 65-100+ than children under 14years. Many regions have already passed this critical shift. The NZ Government’s Better Later Life, He Oranga Kaumatua Strategy evidences the demographic need for social change.
Policy platforms are needed to mobilise local government investment in wellbeing that enables social cohesion, sustainable innovation and efficient community service delivery.
International evidence and best practice has seen responses by governments world-wide to influence understanding, ageism, social change, place and agency, by efforts to transform and strengthen urban environments, lifelong learning, workforce loss and opportunity, technologies and long- term care. Many nations and cultures, including Maori and Pacific people, serve as models by placing a high,sacred, value on Elders, their role, their engagement, well-being, place, care and protection,
There is a clear need to overcome bias.
It is also clear that New Zealand has catch-up challenges that require policymaking leadership.
Carole Gordon MNZM
March 2022
HOW AGEING GOT OLD
Ageing has an image problem
Longevity needs a new horizon
Keynote speech to Bay of Plenty Probus Conference June 2021
Carole Gordon MNZM
After 40 nobody is young, but one can be irresistible at any age. Coco Chanel.
We now live in a world where every new ‘healthy’ product or beauty service starts with the same premise of not becoming ‘older’ or it’s all about ‘ageing.’
It suggests that if you are more than 50 you a have a problem that needs fixing, mostly medically. You are probably lonely, limpy, wrinkled, bald, frail, forgetful, grumpy, grey-haired, chronically diseased, depressed, deaf, demented, varicose veined, or vulnerable or most of those.
It is also a world where young people with white teeth glide past on scooters and startups plot how to innovate a better world over gluten free pretzels, sushi and craft beer. Where heads need earphones as essential smartphone communication and wrinkle panic is the new pandemic.
Ageism used to be about the old but now it is about ageing itself. Diminished eyesight and hearing, stamina, strength, libido, and a dip in short term memory. We are all measuring ourselves and our friends, relatives and neighbours.
Ageing has become the enemy that bodies define. Women we are saved by the anti-wrinkle cream and time to experiment with new nails and colours to stave off uncertainty. Men are concerned about muscles, removing hair and demonstrating functionality by taking babies onto the field. Ageing bodies have become business, medicalized with many renewable parts. A a new culture of institutionalized real-estate has emerged to enable people to do the same things in look alike houses in an effort to stave off uncertainty and the prospect of death.
When we approach the ‘end’ the default setting is to do everything to stay alive in an effort to defy death. That is despite the cost- “it’s only money”, despite pain, distress and dignity, waiting and waiting, hoping the doctors will not say there’s nothing more that they can do. They won’t.
Modern medicine is devising a million ways to keep us alive if we are unable to face death. But rarely will that occur because as surgeon Atul Gwande says in his book Being Mortal, there is always another toxic drug of unknown efficacy, a possible operation, or a feeding tube.
Uncertainty is compounded by our reluctance to plan for our future selves. It is somehow nicer to remember our youthful joy, times of happiness and mostly for men their achievements.
This disconnection fuels ageism in several ways:
1 It allows our assumptions about ageing based on out of date myths, to flourish
2 It makes it easier to stuff older people in a box labelled other.
3 Individualism and consumerism cast growing older as a problem fixed by money and ability, where needing help is dependency in a society that rewards productive self-reliance.
4 Segregation enables stereotyping and discrimination. A mix of ages is a natural order.
5 Tensions between generations are historical but the gifts are great.
Ageism or age stereotyping is usually cruel and denies one’s own future self.
Imagination has no age
Walt Disney
Finding meaningful longevity in an ageing body is a major challenge that brings our wisdom and life experience to the fore. It means being strong enough to know life’s riches beyond the stereotypical culture that pervades and denies becoming.
1 Growing older is not nearly as bad as most of us fear it will be
2 We can change our behaviours to age better and stay active and romantic.
3 We can keep learning with more discipline, self-reflection, analysis and pleasure.
4 Creativity, fresh challenges and innovative thinking is possible because the brain changes
5 Laughing boosts the immune system, reduces pain and combats stress.
5 Emotional intelligence improves with age, socially smart, minding less, caring more.
6 Loneliness is not an ageing condition, more a function of modern life and different to enriching solitude.
7 Nobody ages like anybody else, finding authenticity and happiness, everyone is a work in progress
8 Its not all about bodies, unique attractiveness includes, courage, eloquence, intellect, achievements, kindness, wisdom, character, imagination, creativity, citizenship, philanthropy, humour and more
8 The technology world is evolving in ways to make it easier for people with ageing bodies.
9 There’s always more to discover in the world, having time, going slower makes it richer.
Why is it good being older?
Because I am more myself than I have ever been!
Poet May Sarton
SUPERCENTARIANS
Carole Gordon MNZM
May 2022
Graphic UK loneliness Report.
All Supercentenarians On Earth Are Women
Martin Armstrong from Statista reports that with the passing of Japan's Kane Tanaka at the age of 119 this week, the title of 'oldest living human' has been bequeathed to the French born Lucile Randon. At the ripe old age of 118, she sits atop the infographic below, showing the age and birthplace of the oldest living people on Earth. All women, the countries of birth most represented here are Japan and the United States; accounting for two each, with the U.S. figure growing to four when expanding to a top ten. All entries have been validated by the Gerontology Research Group.
Do these 'supercentenarians' have any advice for living for so long? Emma Morano, born in 1899 and who died in 2017 at the age of 117 was thought to have been the last person alive to have lived in three different centuries. The Italian apparently put her long life down to leaving her husband in 1938 and the consumption of two raw eggs and some raw minced meat every day.