Your monthly Decade update

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Your monthly UN Decade of Healthy Ageing update

Welcome to your UN Decade of Healthy Ageing update for July!

In this newsletter, learn more about:

Heatwaves! Urgent climate action needed for healthy ageing
Fostering social connections on the International Day of Friendship and beyond
Recent work to ensure access to long-term care for everyone who needs it
Upcoming opportunities to get involved
In case you missed it: events, publications, and more

Heatwaves! Urgent climate action needed for healthy ageing

Recent weeks have seen record-breaking heatwaves sweep across the northern hemisphere. These heatwaves are causing unprecedented levels of wildfires, drought, and heatstroke: signs of a global climate emergency that will undo decades of progress in health and well-being, including for current and future generations of older people.

There is no healthy ageing without a healthy planet. The UN General Assembly recently declared healthy environments a human right. Take action now to integrate climate action across all work to improve the lives of older people, their families, and their communities during the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.

Learn more about the Decade in a climate-changing world

Share what you know or are doing about climate action and healthy ageing

Fostering social connections on the International Day of Friendship and beyond

30 July is the International Day of Friendship. Last year, UN agencies came together to mark the day by highlighting social isolation and loneliness among older people as a growing health, social, and economic concern through a jointly published advocacy brief.

One year on, promoting social connection continues to be crucial to fostering healthy ageing. For example, new research from WHO has given strength to the observation that loneliness has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Everyone has a role to play. On 30 July and beyond, take action to reduce social isolation and loneliness – and tell us what you are doing so we can help amplify your work!

Learn more in the joint advocacy brief

Advocate for the importance of social connection using our social media tiles

Contribute to the Decade Platform's social isolation and loneliness hub

Ensuring access to long-term care for those who need it

Most people will need support to care for themselves at some point in their lives. This should not be a barrier to being able to live with meaning, dignity, and rights – including in later life.

This UN Decade of Healthy Ageing, how do we ensure access to good-quality long-term care for everyone who needs it? Learn more and get involved using the latest resources on the topic:

The WHO Regional Office for Europe, together with the European Association Working for Carers (Eurocarers), recently published a new infographic on how gender shapes the impact of caregiving on unpaid informal carers' health and wellbeing.

'Care at work', a recent report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), found that investment in care leave and services (including long-term care) could create up to 300 million jobs by 2035 while responding to the world's increasing care needs.

Establishing sustainable and equitable long-term-care systems and services requires country-level action. WHO has produced a framework to support countries take steps to ensure access to long-term care is available as a part of universal health coverage programmes.

Ensuring access to long-term care is an important area for action during the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. Please help us support your work by sharing what you're doing on the Decade Platform, or by contacting us!

Share what you know and learn from others on the Decade Platform

More opportunities to get involved

9 August 2022: International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

Our work to foster healthy ageing during the next Decade must #LeaveNoOneBehind. Join us on the day to celebrate the voices and contributions of older indigenous people.

9 August 2022: Launch of WHO's position paper on optimizing brain health across the life course

Brain health is an important aspect of fostering healthy ageing. Join this online event to learn more about WHO's approach to optimizing brain health across the life course.

12 August 2022: International Youth Day

This year's theme is 'Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating #AWorld4AllAges'. Use the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism's resources to get involved online, and stay tuned for details of an online commemoration of the day.

19 August 2022: World Humanitarian Day

On this day, advocate for older people's needs and contributions to be recognised in emergency contexts – and share what you know on the Decade Platform.

Can we help spread the word? Get in touch with us

In case you missed it: events, publications, and more

29 June 2022: Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on the Fourth Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) recently held a conference to review progress made on healthy ageing in their region.

14 July 2022: Online event - Older women in crises: invisible among the most vulnerable

This side event at the UN High-level Political Forum explored and highlighted the experiences of older women in emergency situations. Once available, the recording will be posted at the link above.

19 July 2022: New photo story by WHO - How a civil society organization in Kyrgyzstan provided a lifeline for older people during the COVID-19 pandemic

Learn more about the story of the civil society organization 'Resource Centre for the Elderly' in Kyrgyzstan. We're always looking for more stories to feature - please get in touch.

27 July 2022: Launch of 'Let's go! Steps for engaging older people and improve communities for all ages'

This new practical guide is designed to help others start their own journey to make their communities more age-friendly at no/low cost.

Share your work through the Decade Platform