On December 14, 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 to be the International Day of Older Persons. This day was created to highlight the important contributions that older adults make to society and raise awareness of the issues and challenges of aging in today’s world.
According to the United Nations, there are over 900 million people in the world that are 60 years of age or older. By 2030, this number is expected to increase by 56 percent, to approximately 1.4 billion people. At this point, the number of adults aged 60 and above will exceed that of people aged 15 to 24.
Each year, the International Day of Older Persons has a theme, this year is about “Stepping into the Future: Tapping the Talents, Contributions and Participation of Older Persons in Society.”
With 60 plus years of life experience, there is much younger generations can learn from seniors. This day is about enabling and expanding the contributions of older adults within their families, communities and societies at large.
For this International Day of Older Persons, celebrate those that are 60 or older. And if you are part of this group we hope you will take part in this day by sharing your accomplishments and the contributions you make to your community. Some ideas include:
- Sharing them on social media
- Talking about them with friends and neighbours
- Highlighting the value of seniors in the workplace, community and home setting
- Speaking with those that are older than yourself to understand what issues persist and how to help correct them
Learn more about this day and different ways to celebrate it by visiting the United Nations or World Health Organization websites.
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By Christine Tompa