editorial A Rapidly Changing World
Editorial
a rapidly changing world The world stands on the threshold to the ever-increasing geriatric population as the global of an unprecedented demographic or thopaedics products market is on the rise, expected transformation as global populations to reach nearly US$ 47 billion by 2020. Such rise is are rapidly ageing and few countries cer tainly linked to global ageing, the increasing rate of in the world are prepared to deal osteoar thritis, osteoporosis and obesity as well as other with their increasing needs. Life ex- factors. Just like all health sectors, or thopaedics too has pectancy continues to rise in almost its issues to solve and we have engaged our research on ever y countr y; the propor tion of the difficulties encountered by developing countries in people aged over 60 years is grow- or thopaedic rehabilitation. ing faster than any other age group as a result of both longer life expectancy and declining We believe that it is in the interest of all of us to confer tility rates. tribute in the awareness that an action to formulate The increase in longevity, especially in highevidence-based policies that strengthen the income countries, has been largely due to the abilities of older persons is required. Health sysdecline in deaths from cardiovascular disease The proportion of tems need to be better organized around older mainly because of simple, cost-effective strat- people aged over people’s needs and preferences, by strengthenegies to reduce tobacco use and high blood 60 years is growing ing universal healthcare and people-centered pressure as well as improved coverage and effaster than any and integrated health ser vices; by reducing the fectiveness of health inter ventions. other age group as a incidence of chronic disease and disability; by This population ageing can be seen as a success result of both longer keeping them economically engaged for a much for public health policies and for socioeconom- life expectancy and longer time; by developing systems that proic development, but it also challenges society declining fertility vide long-term care to meet the needs of older to adapt, in order to maximize the health and people; by creating age-friendly cities and comrates. functional capacity of older people as well as munities and a lot more to be done... their social par ticipation and security. On this Collectively, we need to look beyond the costs purpose Infomedix has focused its main ar ticle on age- commonly associated with ageing to think about the ing and health as a global priority. benefits that an older, healthier, happier and more Older people are often assumed to be frail or depen- productive older population can bring to society as a dent, and a burden to society. Age discrimination is pub- whole. With good policymaking, most of the burdens licly not considered as a serious concern. Other than can be ameliorated and most of challenges overcome. other forms of discrimination, it is largely accepted that, Whether we consider the economic or the human benfor example, older people get less ser vices or that they efits, nothing will do more to address the global ageing are expected to consume less public funds. If you com- challenge than to ensure that health spans rise along pare rehabilitation ser vices, which are needed both by with life spans. younger and older persons, we find that older persons get much less. Public health, and society as a whole, need to address these and other ageist attitudes, which Baldo Pipitone can lead to discrimination, affect the way policies are CEO Infodent S.r.l. developed and the oppor tunities older people have to baldo.pipitone@infodent.com experience a healthy ageing. Our special or thopaedic section is strictly connected
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