By 2050, people aged 60 and above will double: WHO report

LONDON: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently published a comprehensive report highlighting the challenges and opportunities presented by the world’s ageing population.

According to the report, the number of people aged 60 years or older is expected to double by 2050, reaching nearly 2.1 billion. This demographic shift is poised to have significant implications for societies worldwide, particularly in the areas of healthcare and social support systems.

The WHO emphasises that ageing is not necessarily a burden and can, in fact, present opportunities. However, these opportunities can only be realised if adequate measures are taken to ensure that older people can live healthy, active, and fulfilling lives.

The report underscores the importance of comprehensive public health action, encompassing disease prevention, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and ensuring the availability of long-term care. It also highlights the need for societies to adapt, including changes in policies, practices, and societal attitudes towards ageing and health.

The WHO’s report is a call to action for governments, policy makers, and healthcare providers to invest in strategies that promote healthy ageing. It stresses the importance of creating environments that empower older people to age in a way that they have reason to value.

The report also points out that older people are diverse, and their health outcomes are shaped by their life course. The health challenges they face are determined by factors such as their socioeconomic status, their environments, and their individual characteristics and behaviours.

The WHO’s findings underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to health and social care that recognises the diversity and uniqueness of older people. This includes a shift from disease-centred to person-centred care, and the integration of health and social care services.

The report is a significant contribution to the ongoing global dialogue on ageing and health. It provides a roadmap for action that can help societies worldwide adapt to the demographic shift and ensure that older people can live healthy, active, and fulfilling lives.