By Segun Fatuase
‘’The love, care, and attention we give to the elderly is a measure of our humanity’’
That saying is apt in the light of the direction that the time is ripe for the society to accord some self respect to our aging population. This is more so, in Nigeria which is recording a scary increase in the senior citizens’ category, a worrisome development demanding an urgent response from government in terms of appropriate and viable policies as well as in the glaring neglect of people by a seemingly uncaring society.
The global trend where the proportion of older people is increasing at a fast pace has drawn negative attention to health, infrastructure and financial challenges as highlighted by initiatives like the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing which attempted to maximize certain benefits of the ageing years. The initiative barely scratched the surface in terms of goals and achievements.
Sundry key efforts which came in the wake of the Decade of Healthy Ageing initiatives included advocating for rights with organisations including HelpAge International and the UN’s OEWGA work in the frontlines of efforts to protect the rights of older people and eliminate age-based discrimination and prejudice.
The implementation of pension reforms and cash transfer programmes to ensure the financial security of the elderly was also introduced
There was also the Long-term care and support systems from community-based services to residential care with innovative models like community-based services in Macedonia as well as the development of dementia villages in Europe .
The Integrated healthcare which can effectively manage chronic diseases and address the complex needs of older adults was also introduced to ensure dignity in care to reduce negative health outcomes like depression.
All these efforts at the global level came into being in the bid to alleviate the plight of senior citizens/ Elderly.
At the local level, Nigeria , with its rapidly growing elderly population, has even fared worse. The Nigerian government’s policy concerning the plight of senior citizens/Elderly has not yielded much due to a lack lustre implementation and inadequate funding. Added to this parlous state is the carefree attitude of the youthful segment towards the old generation known as the ‘ancestors’’. This has put a huge dampener on the psyche of those in the 45 to 70 age bracket who sacrificed and sweated hard to The ringing message is that the prolonged neglect of care for the aging population can trigger a welfare crisis globally and locally.
It is in the light of all these that a progressive news platform, through its website…. www.thenewsturf.com is advocating for the rights and needs of senior citizens, also known as the Elderly. This platform intends to transcend media advocacy for the rights and dignity of the senior citizens/elderly and fill the obvious yawning gaps in social and mental support for those senior citizens who are currently being neglected, abandoned and not getting the required medical care. In this way, aging will not look like a death sentence because of a warped societal perception. Aging, to some extent, will guarantee safety, resonance and connection to senior citizens in today’s dynamic world.
Basically, the objective of www.thenewsturf.com is to enable a supportive and caring environment through the media and address salient issues, particularly the physical, emotional, and social challenges faced by senior citizens in the society. It is also to erase the impression that not everyone you care for in your proactive young years will care for you in the same way in your old age. Thus, through a frontal and focused media advocacy, this medium will highlight the crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for the senior citizens/elderly and ensure that they receive the desired and well deserved respect and quality care in their sunset years. In this way, the senior citizens will benefit from social and mental engagements as well as activities that will encourage their social interaction, combat isolation and enhance their mental well-being.
To this end, senior citizens will remain useful and relevant to their communities and the larger society.
This effort also tallies with the anecdote that reads thus; ‘’ We should give our elders the respect and dignity they deserve, for they have made our lives possible.”
Our focus, starting with media advocacy, is to draw the required attention to the plight of senior citizens and in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, follow up with the required interventions. In this way, we will be among the stakeholders/caregivers to ensure that senior citizens grow old gracefully.
The implication is that if all stakeholders work in unison, the quality of life will improve and the specific needs of senior citizens can be duly met.
***This is the first in the series of stories written to highlight the plight of Senior Citizens and Interventions being made to improve their welfare