With age demographics rapidly shifting worldwide, it has become all the more important for international leaders to evaluate the systems currently in place to support the global elderly population to determine how best to expand such initiatives.
To that end, the United Nations has commissioned a large-scale study to gauge the quality of life enjoyed by older adults around the world. According to BBC News, the report – dubbed the Global AgeWatch Index – was devised by aggregating international data on income, access to health care, education and general environment from UN Population Fund with assistance from HelpAge International.
"The continual exclusion of ageing from national and global agendas is one of the biggest obstacles to meeting the needs of the world's [older adult] population." HelpAge International interim chief executive Silvia Stefanoni told the news outlet."This new index can help us focus our attention on where things are going well and where we have to make improvements."
Sweden was ranked as the most supportive environment for older adults, with Norway and Germany taking second and third place. The United States and Canada were both ranked among the top 10.
While this ranking is certainly good news for older adults in the United States, care managers know full well that there is still ample room for improvement within the eldercare industry. Though budget restrictions and personnel shortages are common complaints, the rise of telecare has the potential to ease this burden and enhance the quality of life older Americans enjoy. Independa's caregiver support solutions can benefit older adults whether they choose to age in place or move into a residential community. This intuitive system features telemonitoring, medical reminders and open channels of communication in the form of video chat, email, Facebook and more. Contact us through our online form today to find out how Independa can supplement your current services.
