April 19, 2023

Alzheimer’s Disease International Conference

Ageing and Non Communicable Diseases Toronto

26-29 March

Sylvia Beales

Head of Strategic Alliances

sbeales@helpage.org

HelpAge International | March, 2011

A story on CNN about the impact of the earthquake and tsunami on Japan’s ageing population

April 19, 2023

Century of Ageing1 in every 5 will be over 60 by 2050

Sylvia Beales September 2010

The future that’s here already

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April 19, 2023

Who we are• HelpAge International helps older people claim their

rights, challenge discrimination and overcome poverty, so that they can lead dignified, secure, active and healthy lives

• Global reach via Affiliates and partners in 80 countries

• Vision of a world in which all older people can lead dignified, active, healthy and secure lives

• Mix of practical programmes, influence and advocacy, evidence gathering

• WHO and UN ECOSOC consultative status category 1

April 19, 2023

Global reach

April 19, 2023

Advocacy and communications FlagshipsOlder People on the edge; to expose

• Extreme violations – witchcraft, elder abuse, land grabbing

• Emergencies – displacement; neglect

• Hunger; chronic seasonal poverty

Agents for change: to make visible and to demonstrate

• Contributions to family and community

• Impact when older people mobilise for change as activists

• Roles of older women as carers, educators and workers

Healthy Ageing/positive living; clear calls for

• Access to health in difficult circumstances

• Free essential drugs for conditions common in older age

• Age friendly health services and training

HelpAge International | March, 2011

An older man in Mozambique participates in our Insights on Ageing survey

April 19, 2023

Ageing and health • The increasing proportion of older people in the global population is

contributing to the increase of age-associated chronic diseases, particularly in developing countries. Care-givers, health systems and societies need to be ready to cope with the growing needs of the elderly in every part of the world (WHO 2008)

• Health promotion and disease prevention intervention at community level is needed as well as disease management strategies within their health care system (WHO 2008)

• Depression and Alzheimer's are among the 20 leading causes of disability worldwide. Alzheimer's affects 1 in 20 over the age of 65 and in in 5 over the age of 80

April 19, 2023

Health spend in old agesource WHO/GTZ

Household healthcare expenditures in last 12 months relative to expenditures for all households (=100), by household type

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April 19, 2023

Why the Summit matters

The key challenge for world is how to build…

Process has potential to:

• Highlight data, action and definitional deficiencies on NCDs across the lifecourse

• Highlight costs, socioeconomic impacts and developmental challenges of NCDs in developing countries

• Encourage commitment from Heads of Government to tackle NCDs

• Develop options for financial resources for health reform for developing countries

• Support civil society coalition building on NCDs and development – hitherto agenda on health dominated by responses to HIV and Aids, TB and malaria

April 19, 2023

Expected outcome of Summit• A concise Action-Orientated Outcomes Statement

• G77 calling for clear programme of action post summit for governments and other stakeholders to pursue at the end of the Summit.

• Summit to include roundtable session topics in which member states and civil society will participate.

Roundtables to cover

• Implementation of NCD prevention strategies

• NCD control strategies with access to essential medicines and technologies

• Strengthening national capacities to address NCDs

• Fostering international cooperation to address NCDs

April 19, 2023

Limitations of the Summit• Focus on the four NCDs in WHO 2008-13 plan

• Not whole life course - focus is on the under 60’s

• Age discrimination alive and well in wording such as ‘preventable premature death under 60’

• Summit and its civil society drivers does not include mental health and Alzheimers

• Care giving and access to medicines in old age not in

• Role of older care givers not explored

• Non Communicable Diseases terminology not clear for activists

• Older people not engaged in advocacy on the Summit yet

April 19, 2023

What we would like

The key challenge for world is how to build…

• End to age discrimination in prevention, diagnosis, treatment

• Removal of ‘premature death’ language and reference to gender dimension of care by older people for older people

• Recognition of NCD prevalence and socio economic impacts in 60 plus – Ageing as key driver of NCDs

• Outcomes endorse a whole “life-course” approach and deliver free and accessible health care for all

• Post MDG agenda to include costed and accountable action on ageing and NCDs, including dementia and HIV

• Older people to engage in lobbies for age friendly policies and actions on the prevention and management of NCDs

April 19, 2023

Potential asks in the outcome document – Whole life course approach to NCDs in the global

development goals beyond 2015

– UN system partnership with governments and civil society to build on existing commitments on health and older persons

– Specific target to reduce NCD death rates in old age

– Older people and dementia specifically referenced under measures to target high-risk populations

– Diagnostics, Treatment and Care protocols with monitoring and accountability mechanisms

– Age friendly health systems to ensure access

– Specify prominence of older people as population at particularly high risk

April 19, 2023

Civil society action and NCD Alliance http://www.ncdalliance.org/ Formed in 2009; chair Ann Keeling, based in Brussels

Members are International Diabetes Federation; World Heart Federation; UICC Global Cancer Control; International Union against TB and Lung Disease

National NCD Alliance coalitions in all regions and many countries

NCD alliance strategic supporters include Medtronic, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis

Six asks for Summit - accountability, tobacco control, agreement to prevent the preventable, focus on treatment and care, resources, NCDs in MDG successor goals

34 commitments proposed in draft outcome document under the headings: Leadership, Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment, Health systems, Resources, Research, Human rights and vulnerability, Monitoring and follow-up

Current focus on ‘populations at high risk’ does not include ageing

April 19, 2023

Next Steps• Prepare wording to influence outcome document

• Stimulate debate – expert meetings, reports, media

• Inform networks, keep debate going

• Build national, regional and international alliances

• Advocacy action in regional meetings, WHO events, Summit

• Influence outcome document directly

• Engage with governments and civil society to take action

• Participate in Summit meetings – June and September NY

• Develop plan post Summit

April 19, 2023

Ideas for discussion • ADI and HelpAge International collaboration

• National level – where?

• Regional level – when?

• Action with WHO?

• Explore joint evidence and advocacy linking ageing, dementia and HIV?

• Joint statements and positioning for the summit?

• Wording for the outcome document?

• Joint monitoring and input post Summit?