The World Health Organisation’s 2015 “world report on ageing and health” recommends “profound changes in the way health policies for ageing populations are formulated and services are provided.”

“The report’s recommendations are anchored in the evidence, comprehensive, and forward-looking, yet eminently practical.”

Headlines from the report include:

• There is no typical older person
• Older age does not imply dependence
• Population ageing will increase healthcare costs – but not by as much as expected

Additionally, this particular paragraph really stood out to me.

“Gender norms are also changing in many parts of the world. A key role for women has been that of caregiver, both for children and for older relatives. Today, women are increasingly filling other roles, which provides them with greater security in older age. But these shifts also limit the capacity of women and families to provide care for older people who need it. Together with the rapidly increasing numbers of older people who may need care, this means that old models of care are simply not sustainable.”