International Day for Older Persons

The International Day for Older Persons is observed on October 1^st of each year. Celebrated annually, this global occasion emphasizes the rights of the elderly, addresses the challenges they face, and focuses on the need to provide them with the necessary care in appreciation of their efforts and contributions throughout their life.

Official date: October 1

Key focus areas

• Emphasize the importance of providing the elderly with the social support and health care they need.
• Raise community awareness of the role of the elderly and warn against mistreating or neglecting them.
• Fight against all discrimination the elderly may face because of their age or any disability they may suffer from.
• Encourage prioritizing the elderly and treating them with care, especially in public utilities and public transportation.
• Increase their involvement in community and voluntary initiatives to lift their spirit and benefit from their experiences.
• Conduct the necessary studies and statistics related to the number of elderly people and their health problems in order to provide them with essential facilities and care.
• Inform the elderly about the special benefits offered by government and private institutions to them and how to benefit from them.
• Increase health awareness among other age groups and encourage them to adopt healthy lifestyles, as to prevent diseases or injuries as they get older.

Key facts:

• Almost half of the elderly around the world cannot access necessary care.
• The number of people aged 60 years and older outnumber children younger than 5 years.
• The elderly care sector worldwide faces a shortage of 13.6 million workers.