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Health
Global Action on Aging examines older persons' access to health care, medicine and care, both in the US and worldwide. It also documents how the market system can distort and prevent quality care for most persons. GAA spotlights the actions of for-profit firms in the health field that restrict or compromise older persons' chance to live healthy lives.
The Madrid International Plan of Action on
Aging (MIPAA), adopted by UN Member States in 2002, dedicates a section to health issues of older persons and those that care for them. Under
Priority direction II: Advancing health and well-being into old age, MIPAA lists six main health topics: Health promotion and well-being throughout life, universal and equal access to health-care services, older persons and HIV/AIDS, training of care providers and health professionals, as well as mental health needs of older persons and older persons with disabilities. Under
Priority direction III: Ensuring enabling and supportive environments, MIPAA specifically refers to “care and support for caregivers” that urges provision of care and services for older persons and support for their caregivers, particularly older women.
GAA tracks progress and backsliding in the recommended areas. We also alert our readers to obstacles that block a healthy, long life for many older persons.
In depth reports on Medicare
and health-related legislation provide details on how Capitol Hill's
decisions impact older citizens. A specific section is dedicated to trade
unions and their role in promoting access to health care for
seniors. Articles on the latest prescription drug developments
and tips on healthy living help seniors learn about the latest news in the
health field.
Articles that give a perspective on health care trends and the quality of
life for seniors around the world. GAA focuses on presenting information
about the diverse systems of health insurance and social services provided
for older persons. We include public and private health care topics,
as well as information on prescription drug and treatment advances.
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Older
People and HIV/AIDS
In this section, GAA posts articles about how older people experience the HIV/AIDS crisis in every region of the world. These elders either suffer from HIV/AIDS themselves or are caregivers for their children, their grand-children or others.
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United Nations Disability Rights Convention
Worldwide there are approximately 600 million people with disabilities. In the year 2000, in the United States alone 41.9% (Source: US Census Bureau) of the population of 65 years and over live with some disability. The rights of disabled people both in rich and poor countries are often weak or at times non-existent.
In
December 2001,
Mexico
, with the support of lobbying groups, initiated a UN General Assembly
resolution to establish an Ad Hoc Committee to develop a proposal for an
international convention on the rights of people with disability. The
Committee entitled the "Ad
Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention
on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons
with Disabilities" is open to all
Member
States
and observers to the United Nations.
On this page you will find GAA reports on the Committee's fifth session
as well as documents relating to the situation of elderly with
disabilities world wide.
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