On 30th June 2021, CommonAge marked its 7th anniversary since it was formally launched in 2014. We are writing to update you on our progress, to thank you for your support for our work and look forward to your continuing encouragement and financial backing.
As we all know the past year and more has been an extraordinary time for the whole world as we have faced the devastating impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic, with many lives lost globally. The year will undoubtedly be recorded as one of the most difficult across the globe and felt strongly in third world countries many of which are members of the Commonwealth. The impact of the disease has fallen disproportionately on the elderly and it has exposed in many countries the inadequacies and weaknesses of the support system for old and vulnerable people in our societies.
The rapid spread of infection amongst those with age related frailty or weakness brought into sharp focus the ageism, neglect and marginalisation of the elderly and the weakness in our social care systems.
We have been as active as possible in our media and advocacy work to ensure that this issue gets highlighted. Our white paper report on “Ageism in the Commonwealth” (available here: White paper: Ageism in the Commonwealth – CommonAge (commage.org)) has helped to highlight the issue and it was followed by the UN “Global Report on Ageism” (Global Report on Ageism | DISD (un.org)), the first international report of its kind from the UN.
PARTNERS
In addition to our advocacy work we have continued to grow our outreach to Commonwealth countries to improve service delivery. We entered into a strategic partnership with HelpAge International and are steadily increasing our presence and the awareness of our agenda in more of the 54 countries of the Commonwealth.
We are particularly pleased to be working in close partnership with our colleagues in Standards Wise International, and to be associated with the launch of the new Standards for Seniors Living and Care Services in India. This comprehensive model of standards based voluntary accreditation for service providers is making a real difference in the quality of services and the outcomes for older people.
Through QCS, a guide called Pooled Activity Checklist (PAL), has been made available to CommonAge to distribute for a nominal charge to mainly third world Commonwealth countries that do not have substantive standards in place. We will be launching that product in a few months. We are also producing a short video highlighting Commonage’s purpose and vision the costs of which has been kindly supported by Standards Wise International and India.
We look forward to supporting the further adoption of these and similar standards in other Commonwealth countries. We are also grateful for the continued highly valued support of Quality Care Systems (QCS) and are pleased in turn to support and encourage their international work to embed comprehensive and contemporary policies and procedures in high quality services.
ADVOCACY
We continue actively to campaign through social media and other channels for all Commonwealth countries to adopt policies and strategies that are inclusive and age friendly. We are now the recognised aged care voice within the institutions of the Commonwealth.
For the elderly, we speak out whenever we can for intergenerational approaches to civil society development, that recognise the essential mutual support that needs to exist between generations in order for communities to thrive and flourish.
This all-age friendly approach to society has never been more important and it must become a fundamental principle of sustainable development as the Commonwealth works to build back a better future for all its citizens.
We are strongly supporting the UN/WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020-2030. As we look ahead, sharpening the focus of our work onto the promotion of policies and strategies across all Commonwealth Countries for Healthy Ageing.
LOOKING AHEAD
We need to campaign hard to convince all Commonwealth governments and non-state actors that the pursuit of Healthy Ageing approaches not only aids social cohesion but it also improves happiness and quality of life amongst people as they age and it saves money within their health systems. We need the active support of all our stakeholders in this work and hope that you will stay with us on this important journey.
We have managed to achieve much through our committed team of volunteers, but in order to continue and, hopefully, to accelerate the work we do need the continued support of our founders, members and established supporters.
Donations are our only source of revenue and we would appreciate if you could assist by making any donation no matter how small or large.
Thank you for your time and your ongoing support as we work continue working to ensure older people are fully recognised in society, and are supported and enabled to live well in an all-age friendly commonwealth.