Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging 2002

The Maltese Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (MAGG), together with the European Centre of Gerontology, in collaboration with the Parliamentary Secretariat for the Elderly and Community Care, organised a half-day seminar on the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging 2002 last week.

With a mission to promote "a society for all ages", the United Nations held the Second World Assembly on Aging in Madrid in April 2002. It analysed the progress achieved since the First World Assembly in Vienna in 1982, and also addressed priorities for future action.

The First World Assembly was called to raise awareness on the explosion in numbers of older people in the world and on the implications of this demographic trend on both national and international development.

The result was an important document recognised by governments as the Vienna International Plan of Action. It called for humanitarian and development approaches to aging and highlighted the imperative for training in all aspects of gerontology and geriatrics.

It is worth pointing out that it was Malta who raised the issue of Population Aging at the United Nations in 1968. Indeed, our country played a pivotal role in the success of the First World Assembly in Vienna.

While the First World Assembly had focused on the patterns of aging in the developed world, the Second World Assembly attached a high precedence to the situations in developing countries, where increased longevity meant that older people were living longer in poverty. This meant that both the developed and the developing countries recognised that aging was a global concern.

The Second World Assembly of Action on Aging in Madrid saw government representatives from all over the world adopt a blueprint for an international response to the opportunities and challenges of population aging in this century.

Two main documents were approved: a political document in which governments acknowledged the need to incorporate aging into social and economic strategies, policies and actions; and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging 2002.

The latter provided world policymakers with a list of 117 recommendations covering three main domains. These are: 1. Older Persons and Development - this priority focuses on the continuing integration and empowerment of older persons, enabling them to participate in society, development, and the labour force.

2. Advancing Health and well-being into Old Age - this wide-ranging priority urges governments to reduce the effects of factors that increase disease and dependence in older age, develop policies to prevent ill health, and provide access to adequate nutrition. This part of the document also recommends that governments promote access to training for older workers, increase adult literacy, while expanding educational opportunities in the fields of geriatrics and gerontology for all health professionals who work with older persons.

3. Ensuring Enabling and Supportive Environments - improving housing and the living environments of older persons are world-recognised priorities. However, this section of the document also addresses the promotion of a positive view of aging and supporting the care-giving role of older persons, among others.

In brief, the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging 2002 calls for changes in attitudes, policies and practices in all sectors to realise the great potential of aging in the 21st century, and that older persons should be perceived as a valuable resource in the service of society. Keynote speakers included Professor Joseph Troisi, Dr Anthony Fiorini and Marvin Formosa. The seminar was also addressed by Professor John Rizzo Naudi and Parliamentary Secretary Helen D'Amato.