Happy International Older Person's Day!

Retirement Industry Head Calls for More Prominence in New Zealand for International Older Person’s Day

International Older Person’s Day is observed annually on 1 October to celebrate the contribution older people make to society.  The head of one of New Zealand’s largest Retirement Village operators is calling for the day to have more prominence in New Zealand given the growing proportion of our population aged over 65, which will reach over 566,000 in 2011.

Summerset Retirement Villages CEO and President of the Retirement Villages Association, Norah Barlow says the theme of the day to celebrate age and the often unseen and unpaid contribution that older people make to our communities is an important reminder that too often our focus is a negative one with words like ‘grey tsunami’, ‘burden’, ‘drain’ and ‘cost’ featuring in headlines focused on older New Zealanders.

In recognition of International Older Persons Day, the Minister for Senior Citizens Hon John Carter is visiting one of Summerset’s villages to discuss how the Government can ensure that those over 65 can actively participate and have input into the planning that will be needed to as the older population grows to reach 1.2 million by 2051.

In 1990 the United Nations General Assembly voted to establish 1 October as International Older Persons Day, with the day first being observed in 1991.

Norah Barlow says that there are new challenges for our society, health and welfare systems as a result of an aging population, which, on the whole, is living longer than generations before.  However, while New Zealanders are living longer, the majority are also living much more active lives that see them choosing to continue to work well past what we traditionally saw as ‘retirement age’.  A study of census data in 2008 showed that showed the number of people aged 60 to 64 in work has risen from 25 per cent in 1991 to 65%

“Many of those who have retired are actively involved in the voluntary sector giving generously of their time and wealth of experience often filling the gaps between what the Government and private sector can provide in community services.  They are also physically active and continue to enjoy their chosen sports well into their seventies and often eighties and even 90’s.”

Having worked with older people for the past decade, I’ve been fortunate to witness the really positive shift that’s taking place for those over 65 away from a view that ‘retirement’ signaled the end of active lives, to one where for most it is an exciting new beginning and a chance to do all of the things that full-time jobs and raising families can stand in the way of.

“International Older Person’s Day should serve as a reminder to the rest of the population that with the number kiwis aged of over 65 growing by 100,000 each year we need to learn how to celebrate age for the richness and experience that it brings and the wealth of skills, knowledge and talents that our older population has to share. “

With the baby boomers now hitting their mid-sixties, this dynamic change in the way older kiwis are choosing to live their lives and what they expect to get out of it has seen the rapid growth of retirement villages where 25,000 New Zealanders aged over 65 now live. Barlow says retirement villages are a move away from the isolation and loneliness that many New Zealanders faced before villages became an option.  The trend towards much more active and richer lives post 65 sees kiwis choosing retirement villages for the independence, security, freedom and social interaction which allows them to really enjoy their life.

 “One of our residents celebrated his 70th by running the London marathon and is still filling his trophy cabinet with medals from the Masters Games.  Another in her seventies has only just finished her full-time job running a prestigious law practice and is now working in a payroll job part-time.  Others are vital organisers, fundraisers and workers for local community organisations, many of which say they couldn’t function without their dedication.

Many of our residents, including my own mother are still traveling the world.  They are not of a mind just to sit and watch the world go by, but want to make the most of everyday.”

“It is timely given the theme of the day to remember that into the future this important sector of our society wants and needs to contribute to the future success of New Zealand.   All those involved in the aged care sector need remember that our future planning needs to be for lifestyle options that celebrate age and promote a great quality of life and active participation in the community.”

Published 1st Oct 2010

print