Overview:
Elderly people have always played an important role in society as leaders, caregivers, and custodians of traditions, however, they also require extensive healthcare; As they are more vulnerable to chronic diseases and their complications, deterioration in functional ability, disability, and discrimination against the elderly and its negative consequences for them. As health care improves, the number of older people grows, so do their needs and their contributions to the world. International Day of Older Persons, celebrated annually on October 1, is an opportunity to highlight important contributions that older people make to society, and to raise awareness of opportunities and challenges of aging in today's world.
Facts:
- Number and proportion of people aged 60 and over in the population is increasing. In 2019, the number of people aged 60 and over reached 1 billion. This number will increase to 1.4 billion by 2030 and 2.1 billion by 2050.
- The number of elderly people in Saudi Arabia is 3.81% or 1.36 million people.
- Chronic diseases are the most prevalent among the elderly.
- Good health in old age is the result of following a healthy lifestyle from childhood.
Objectives:
- Highlight this age group and its health needs.
- Raising awareness of elderly rights and the importance of health care.
- Clarification of concerned authorities for all categories of the elderly.
- Spreading the culture of healthy aging among members of society and the elderly themselves.
- Supporting joint care among all parties concerned with the elderly.
- Raising awareness of the importance of digital integration for the elderly, taking into account social and cultural norms and the right to live independently.
Official Date:
Globally: October 1st, 2023
Locally: Rabi' al-Awwal 16th, 1445H