October 1st – International Day of the Elderly
“Walking in the Future: Using the talents, contribution and participation of the elderly in society”
The Macedonian Red Cross this year is also taking part in the celebration of the 1st of October – International Day of the Elderly. This day was appointed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 14, 1990. This was preceded by initiatives such as the Vienna International Aging Action Plan – adopted in 1982 by the World Aging Council – and approved later that year by the UN General Assembly. In 1991, the General Assembly adopted the Principles for the Elderly of the United Nations. In 2002, the Second World Aging Agenda adopted the Madrid International Action Plan on Aging, responding to the opportunities and challenges of aging of the population in the 21st century and promoting the development of a society for all ages.
The theme set by the United Nations for this year’s International Day of the Elderly is: The topic highlights the link between talent usage and the contribution of older people and the achievement of the implementation of the Agenda 2030 and the Madrid International Action Plan for Aging, which is currently in process the review and assessment. In the future, it is quite obvious that the need to rely on the often ignored and under-valued contributions of the elderly is not only essential for the well-being of the elderly, but it is also important for the processes of sustainable development. The theme for 2017 will explore the effective means of promoting and strengthening the participation of the elderly in various aspects of social, cultural, economic, civic and political life.
The Macedonian Red Cross as a member of the National Coordinative Body for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Implementation of the National Strategy for the Elderly, developed in accordance with the Madrid International Action Plan for Aging, is actively involved and contributes to the overall efforts undertaken by the competent institutions in exercising their rights, the necessary care and protection of the elderly in Macedonia.
On the occasion of marking October 1st, activities related to active aging, as well as activities for support and care of the elderly will be organized within the program activities of the Red Cross:
The Red Cross of Skopje on October 2nd will organize a press conference on the topic “A step forward in modernization and standardization of services for the elderly”. Also, will be held a Qi Kong seminar and an art colony for active elderly people, a joint meeting of the social protection services of the City of Skopje and the City of Ninberg, Exchange of experiences – home visits to the elderly people from the Red Cross branches Ninberg and the City Red Cross of Skopje, a meeting of the Red Cross Ninberg and City Red Cross of Skopje and the Austrian Red Cross for the promotion of the services for the elderly, as well as the visit of 180 elderly and feeble persons to their homes by volunteers and nurses, a project that was implemented seven years in continuity.
By the Red Cross Branches Kisela Voda, Veles, Kriva Palanka, Prilep, Gostivar, Struga, Debar, Bitola, Kavadarci, Ohrid and Resen, educational workshops on the topic of health prevention of the elderly will be organized as well as information workshops for the rights of the elderly. Through the Red Cross Branches, the volunteers together with health workers will visit over 110 elderly and feeble persons in their homes in rural areas, as well as make visits to the institutions for the elderly, where food aid will be distributed and clothes. In cooperation with the associations of pensioners, the Red Cross of Gostivar will organize a tribune on the topic “Inclusion and re-socialization of the elderly in the society”. Red Cross Kriva Palanka will hold an educational workshop on the topic: Healthy way of eating – preventive measures against food poisoning, Red Cross of Resen will hold a workshop on the topic: Prevention and protection against high blood pressure and blood sugar, Red Cross of Debar will hold an educational workshop on the rights of the elderly. The Red Cross of Prilep in cooperation with the municipal association of pensioners will organize an educational workshop on the topic of active aging. Within the framework of the sports and recreational action “For a happier childhood”, the Red Cross Ohrid, will be organized a generational meeting where the elderly will have the opportunity to engage in joint sports activities with young volunteers. The Red Cross of Bitola will organize first aid training for the elderly in the association of pensioners in the municipality.
These are only part of the activities of the Red Cross that are implemented with and for the elderly, in order to improve the quality of their lives.
