Meeting the Needs of the Growing Very Old Population: Policy Implications for a Global Challenge

Very old adults are one of the fastest-growing age groups worldwide. Yet they rarely constitute a targeted group for public policies. Drawing on the results of the centenarian studies presented in this special issue, we highlight major challenges that arise from the increase of this population. We outline several promising approaches for policy makers and professionals to develop evidence-based policies and programs that are tailored to the needs of very old adults and their families. We focus our discussion on three key topics essential to life care: the importance of integrated care to meet the complex care needs of the very old; the balance between formal and informal care; and the development of suitable places for living. Besides more specific measures, we propose that policies promoting the social integration of very old adults in their communities would be particularly helpful, as these may benefit not only the very old and ...

Webinar: Promoting Visibility and Inclusion: Protecting Older Persons and People with Disabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is intensifying inequalities and producing new threats for older persons and persons with disabilities. COVID-19 case fatality rates suggest a notable increase in risk after age 60, with progressively worse outcomes for those over 70 and over 80 years. Likewise, people with disabilities are among the hardest hit. 

To raise awareness and ensure that the UN regional system is equipped to help governments  guarantee the equal rights of older people and people with disabilities to access healthcare and lifesaving procedures during the pandemic, UNFPA, WHO and UNDCO, in coordination with the United Nations European Regional Issue Based Coalition on Health, will convene a one-hour webinar focused on supporting UNCTs in their work to advocate for greater attention to the specific needs of vulnerable persons. Panelists from civil society organizations actively engaged with the UN system will offer views on scaling up immediate responses while making COVID19 a ...

Why the biopsychosocial model needs to be the underpinning philosophy in rehabilitation pathways for patients recovering from COVID-19

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has left many consequences, both social and health, on a social and individual level. In the face of individual sequelae, the need to address this need for care with an integrative approach becomes more important.The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has left many consequences, both social and health, on a social and individual level. In the face of individual sequelae, the need to address this need for care with an integrative approach becomes more important.

"For patients recovering from COVID-19, it will be impossible to separate the person and their personal circumstances from COVID-19, and to regard physical, psychological and social factors as independent entities. For this reason, we argue that the BPS model is needed with even more reason than before, and that it should be the philosophy of care to underpin rehabilitation in the recovery from COVID-19".

Lessons in the Design and Initial Implementation of the System on Prevention, Early Identification, Referral, and Intervention for Delays, Disorders, and Disabilities in Early Childhood in the Philippines

Approximately 1 in every 10 children has a disability and in developing countries, fewer than one out of 10 of them go to school (1) (2). Persons with disabilities experience overlapping deprivations that contribute to marginalization, significant discrimination, and ultimately, exclusion in societal participation, perpetrating the vicious cycle of disability and poverty (3) (4).

Early childhood is the time when the impact of disability into adulthood can be maximally mitigated. It is, therefore, crucial for identification to be carried out at the earliest possible instance and appropriate intervention is provided.

In the Philippines, efforts are underway to implement a system on prevention, early identification, referral, and intervention for delays, disorders, and disabilities in early childhood in select subnational areas. This is a project that is being implemented through the national Early Childhood Care and Development Council and the Department of Health with support from UNICEF and Humanity and Inclusion.

Important ...

Voice, agency, empowerment - handbook on social participation for universal health coverage

Social participation is an important means for governments to develop responsive health policies and programmes, which are more likely to be implemented by a broad stakeholder group. It is at the heart of the inclusive governance needed for countries to stake their individual paths towards Universal Health Coverage while ensuring that no one is left behind.

As simple as it may seem in theory, it is a complex undertaking in practice, one which policy-makers struggle with. The Handbook on Social Participation for UHC is thus designed to provide practical guidance, anchored in conceptual clarifications, on strengthening meaningful government engagement with the population, communities, and civil society for national health policy-making. It draws on best practices and lessons learned to support government institutions in setting up, fine-tuning, improving, and institutionalizing new or existing participatory health governance mechanisms.

The handbook follows through the different tasks which policy-makers must reflect on and undertake ...