Category Archives: 2020

Music as a Global Resource Compendium: Solutions for Cultural, Social, Health, Educational, Environmental, and Economic Issues

It is our pleasure to provide the 5th edition of Music as a Global Resource Compendium: Solutions for Cultural, Social, Health, Educational, Environmental, and Economic Issues. The 2020 Compendium includes 109 projects from 54 countries around the world and is in honor of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.

This 2020 edition has a range of new features, such as an in-depth analysis of projects, a section that discusses how projects have been impacted by the COVID Pandemic, and a new design. . After you download the document you can locate any section or project by clicking on it in the Table of Contents. At any time you can click on the ribbon in the upper left hand corner to help you navigate easily to other parts of the compendium.

COVID-19 and the Aging Population: Finding Light at the End of the Tunnel

COVID-19 and the Aging Population: Finding Light at the End of the Tunnel 

December 3, 2020, 6:00 – 7:15 PM EST

Virtual Side Event at the 13th Session of the Conference of State Parties (COSP) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
UN Headquarters, New York

Video Summary 

Overview

Within the frameworks of the COSP, 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and in support of the United Nations 75th Anniversary, the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM) has organized with the International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC) and other partners an international interactive session addressing a population needing attention as we reimagine the future. This session will explore the challenges and offer practical opportunities as a response to this rapidly increasing group often known as the AgeQuake!! the Silent Giant effected by COVID-19.

Since the first reported case of COVID-19 infection in December of 2019 from China, the COVID-19 virus has virulently spread throughout the seven continents.  It was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2019. As of August 12, 2020, more than 20.2 million cases of COVID‑19 infections have been reported in more than 188 countries and territories, resulting in more than 741,000 deaths.  The morbidity and mortality in the aging population were alarmingly high. Per CDC, approximately 92% of the COVID-19 deaths from February 1 to June 7, 2020, in the US came from the age group of 55 and over, and of these, approximately 2/3 came from the age group of 75 and over.

Actions will be identified to delineate, develop, scale-up and implement programs related to local cultures by exploring how a holistic approach, enhanced by technologies and innovation, can help to facilitate the improvement and enhance inclusive economic growth and social equity.

Recommendations suggested by speakers will be reviewed by the relevant organization, including government and medical decision-makers and United Nations bodies, and presented to related venues by enhancing awareness on related international hubs and stimulate new mindsets and intergenerational empowerment.

As we are all aware, our world is no longer one of the simple sovereign states or national self-interest  but one of inclusive  and open date, collaboration, innovation and private sector contributions to enhance  today’s fast pace  healthy solutions to the lives of COVID-19 patients.

This session also will include suggested solutions as we reimagine the post virus era.

Dr. Alexandre Sidorenko will address the COVID -19 infection and impact among older persons.

Dr. Naheed Van de Walle will discuss the rehabilitation of the seniors infected with the COVID-19 virus.

Dr. Areerat Suputtitada, will explore the impact on women and families.

Dr. Sam Wu will comment on the influence of the COVID-19 infection on a physician’s practice caring for the geriatric population.

Ms.Akiko Ito will elaborate on the UN’s response to COVID-19, with emphasis on the aging population.

All will address the next steps in finding solutions in caring for Older Persons.  This will be followed by an open forum where the participants can ask questions and discuss with the experts on how to improve the lives of the older persons in these pandemic times.

Speakers

Chair – Bryan O’Young, MD, Professor and Vice-Chair of Education, Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA;  Chair of UN Liaison Committee, International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM)

Moderator – Dianne Davis, Ph.D.; President and Co-founder,  International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC) NY, NY, USA

Lecturer – Alexandre Sidorenko, MD, Ph.D.; Senior Advisor, European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna, Austria ; Former Head, United Nations Programme on Ageing, UN Headquarters, New York, New York, USA

Lecturer – Naheed Van de Walle, MD;  Attending Physician, Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Lecturer – Areerat Suputtitada, MD, Professor and Advisor, Dept of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Chair of Women and Health Task Force, ISPRM

Lecturer – Sam Wu, MD, MA, MPH, MBA, Professor and Chair, Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Lecturer – Akiko Ito, MA, LLM; Chief Secretariat of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability, UN Headquarters, New York, New York, USA

Harnessing Creative Solutions: Voices of New Global Leaders

We are proud to provide a recording of the video conference, “Reimaging Cities in Post-Pandemic: ‘Agequake’ Challenges and Opportunities” that took place Thursday, 29th October 2020.  The conference featured the voices of the winners of the “Integrated Communities: A Society for All Ages” Competition who have completed their fellowship sponsored by the Society for Agequake Student Designers. The fellowships provide future leadership and meaningful opportunities for winners to give back to their local society, particularly older persons by applying their knowledge and expertise to be of service to those at the regional and local levels, in the public and private sector and to NGOs.

Overview: Urban October is an opportunity for everyone to be part of the conversation about the challenges and opportunities created by the “Agequake” fast rate increase of population ageing in our cities and towns. Viewing as a framework of support for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals – 3: health and well-being for all ages, 11: inclusive cities and 17: public/private partnerships the session’s non-traditional gathering of new global leaders and experts to leverage their insights and wisdom to address three key elements for enhancing “Better Living ..Adding Life to Years” by connecting the dots of the inter-linked SDG’s, New Urban Agenda, technology and smart cities as more “human oriented cities” … a practical holistic mindset!. In 2019, there were 703 million persons aged 65 years or over in the global population. This number is projected to double to 1.5 billion in 2050. Globally, the share of the population aged 65 years or over increased from 6 per cent in 1990 to 9 per cent in 2019…Thus, a Sleeping Giant …the “AGEQUAKE.”

Reimaging Cities in Post-Pandemic: “Agequake”: Challenges and Opportunities

Voices will address: Historic Past, The New Reality, The Near and Not so Near Future

Program includes:

Welcome:

Ms. Christine Gong, Fellowship Chair, Chinese Culture & Art International Organization

Dr. Graham Alabaster, United Nations Habitat, Geneva

Moderator: Dr. Cecilia Martinez Leal, Chairperson of WRI (World Resource Institute) Mexico

Panelists: Fellows from Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Italy, France, Russia, Switzerland, and Tanzania

Comments:

Dr. Alexandre Sidorenko, Senior Advisor, European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Former Head, United Nations Programme on Ageing

Dr. Josephine OJiambo, Former Deputy General, Commonwealth Secretariat and UN Ambassador for Kenya to the UN,

Mr. John Gong and Mrs. Mimi Gong, Co-Chairs, Society for Agequake Students Designers, Athena Technologies, Inc.

Closing Remarks: Professor Dianne Davis, Founding President, International Council for Caring Communities, ICCC

This virtual session was organized in support of World Cities Day and the United Nations 75 Anniversary in cooperation with United Nations and related organizations.

“ This is the age of ageing, But it’s only the dawn of that age.”

H.E. Julia Alvarez, Former Ambassador for the Dominican Republic to the UN.