In 2020, the World Health Organization and the United Nations designated 2021-2030 as the Decade of Healthy Aging. Longer life expectancy creates new health needs related to multiple morbidities, cognitive decline, and long-term care and support, yet older people face distinct disadvantages in accessing appropriate, affordable, and quality care in health systems that are not designed to meet these needs. This burden is not distributed equally and may exacerbate inequalities that have already accumulated along the life course.
IIGH’s work on health inequalities is highlighting the challenges faced by aging populations, including the unequal effects of health systems that are siloed and ill-equipped for the needs of older adults. With partners such as American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Amnesty International USA, Grantmakers in Aging, HelpAge USA, the International Longevity Center USA, and Research!America, IIGH has co-convened public and private dialogues with public officials to elevate population aging as a U.S. foreign policy priority, co-hosted meetings with philanthropic leaders to address the deficit in engagement with aging as a global health priority, and organized multiple public events to highlight the impact of population aging on global health priorities.
Over the next five years, IIGH is deepening and expanding our emergent work within healthy longevity, with a focus on the following topics:
- Expanding the availability and accuracy of health data for diverse aging populations
- Equitable access to integrated and person-centered healthcare services for elderly populations in low- and middle-income countries
- Intergenerational and multi-sectoral approaches to addressing healthy longevity
- Equitably responding to the needs and rights of aging societies including sexual health and the potential repercussions of climate change