In 1990, the United Nations General Assembly declared that October 1st would be designated “International Day of Older Persons.” In an attempt to meet the guiding principle of “Leaving No-One Behind”, this day is seen as an opportunity to explore the numerous issues that face older persons throughout the world. As the population of people over 60 is expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2030 (according to the UN), the need to make available services and supports is growing exponentially.

Each year, the International Day of Older Persons has a different theme, and this year’s is “Sustainability and Age Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment.” As noted on the UN’s website, 6 out of every 10 people will live in urban areas by 2030. Considering the vast numbers of older persons who will be living in cities around the world, it behooves city planners and health care providers to anticipate supporting a population that is growing increasingly older.

“In principle, these trends offer older persons prospects for improving their quality of life,” reads the UN webpage on “Sustainability and Age Inclusiveness.” The article emphasizes that, it is not enough simply to design housing that is “age-friendly”, but public facilities must be inclusive as well. “This includes access to affordable, reliable, safe and physically accessible transportation, which is one of the cornerstones of older persons’ participation, independence and social inclusion.”

The International Day of Older Persons highlights the increasing need for home care providers, personal care assistants, and trained family caregivers. The DirectCourse College of Personal Assistance and Caregiving curriculum provides convenient, affordable training, rooted in research provided by the Community Living Policy Center at the University of California, San Francisco. Our online curriculum is designed to give caregivers the tools they need to provide the best assistance to older adults and people with disabilities.