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As you well know, the Chilean population is aging, which means that the elderly population is increasing rapidly. In contrast, did you know that 19% of people in Chile are 60 years old or older? A figure that is clearly expected to increase in the coming years.
Therefore, faced with an ageing country, as pointed out in our first blog, a series of challenges arise for states, organisations, families and individuals themselves, focused on building a society for all ages.
One of the most urgent challenges is directly related to the increase in the number of abuses and discrimination experienced by many older people around the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 6 people over 60 years of age suffers or has suffered some type of abuse in the last year.
To make this unfortunate reality visible, various international organizations have implemented some actions such as the creation of the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons, promulgated by the Organization of American States (OAS) and ratified by our country in 2017.
The Inter-American Convention is a normative instrument that makes older persons visible and recognizes them as a vulnerable group that is more prone to experiencing violence. It therefore promotes, protects and seeks to ensure their recognition as well as their full enjoyment and exercise of human rights. Its main objective is to commit, in this case, Chile to carrying out concrete actions that will ensure the inclusion of this group, guaranteeing their dignity, participation and protection on equal terms.
This is therefore a great and important step, but it undoubtedly implies work and responsibilities not only for the State and organizations, but also for each one of us. In this sense, I invite you to inform yourself about the 27 protected and recognized human rights of older people so that you can identify the ways in which you can contribute and join in now, not only to their recognition but also to contribute to their respect.
Below, we will help you a little in this task, and we will review together some of the rights in which we can contribute every day with very simple actions:
1. Right to equality and non-discrimination based on age (Art. 5°)
Start by having a more positive view of old age , this stage is one of great contribution, new learning, carrying out pleasurable activities or even acquiring new roles in society.
Try not to hide information in any area . Older people should always be informed of everything that has to do with their lives. Something very common that happens is that they are kept in the dark about the treatments or medical procedures that are going to be performed on them and the consequences that they may have.
If you have to accompany an elderly person to the doctor or to carry philippine pie telegram out a procedure, do not ask for things or answer for them , make sure that they speak to them by name and address them, it is very common for them to think that they are not capable of responding, ignoring them and practicing indifference.
Don't infantilize older people and avoid treating them as if they weren't there, don't talk to them as if they didn't understand. Don't confuse affection with actions that make a difference.
Treat older people you know and those you don't know in a respectful and considerate manner , with actions as simple as giving up your seat on public transport, giving them the right of way in line at the supermarket, if you're driving and have to wait longer for someone to cross the street, don't be upset, rather wait patiently and with empathy. You too are getting older day by day.
Reduce the chances of social isolation , do not exclude them from social and/or family activities because you think they are not capable, you can adapt the environment, sit next to them at a family lunch, make them part of the conversation, encourage them to meet up with friends, among many other things.
Show interest in their life story , create instances where you can talk, get to know and even learn from their experiences. Practice active listening, for this it is important that you always look them in the eye when they talk to you, if you are looking at your cell phone or the television they will think that you are not paying attention to them, respect their time by generating a calm conversation, you can paraphrase so that they understand that you are understanding what they want to tell you, use body language and always express yourself in a respectful manner, especially if they have already told you the same anecdote on more than one occasion.
Always respect their privacy and intimacy in all aspects of their life, keep their things or personal issues confidential if they wish, knock on the door and ask permission before entering their room, or if you are in front of a person with some type of dependency, make sure to close the door or curtains when you are going to help them with their personal needs such as changing clothes or going to the bathroom, anticipate your actions and explain the procedures you are going to perform.
3. Right to independence and autonomy (Art. 7°)
Respect the decisions and opinions of older people, especially if they affect them directly, such as where or with whom they want to live, the treatments or medical procedures they need to undergo, the activities they want to participate in or not, among many other things.
Another way to help with autonomy is for them to decide what they want to do with their money . They may not be able to go shopping in person, but they can decide what they want to buy.
If you know that they use optical lenses, hearing aids, canes, walkers, wheelchairs, etc., make sure that these are always on hand and/or in good condition.
If you live with an elderly person or are a constant visitor to him/her, check that the environment allows for safe movement , that there is good lighting, that the spaces are free of obstacles, if there are mats that are attached to the floor to prevent falls, among other actions.
If you find yourself in front of a person with some level of dependency and because of this they cannot dress themselves, you can let them choose what clothes they want to wear, or if it is difficult for them to move from one place to another, you can ask them where in the house they want to be or where they want to go.
Try not to provide more assistance or support than necessary . Many times, in order to provide help or out of affection, we fall into over-assistance with the elderly, eliminating the possibility of them carrying out activities on their own.
Maintain good communication with the elderly person to identify their abilities and strengths so that you can reinforce them. This means that you pay attention to what they can do, collaborate in simplifying activities and always use positive reinforcements such as “I know you can do it” or “you are doing very well.”
If you live with older people, allow or intend for them to carry out household activities , such as sweeping the house, setting the table, hanging clothes, helping in the kitchen, these activities are essential to promote independence in daily life activities.
4. Right to participation and community integration (Art. 8°)
If you know or live with an elderly person, make sure that they continue to enjoy the activities that they like or that are meaningful to them and be part of those moments, play a game of cards or dominoes, talk about the soap opera they like, if they like to knit ask them to make you a pair of gloves, you will see how happy it makes them.
Make sure to encourage participation in the right to vote in government elections, help them get there and/or accompany them, give them a place in line or, if you are a polling station member, allow them to have preferential attention.