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The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- States should take measures to ensure that older persons receive age-friendly health care of a quality commensurate with that of other age groups. Examples of improved quality goods, services and facilities for older people would include greater numbers of geriatricians and improved training in geriatrics across all specialties to ensure that needs of older persons are recognised and attended to. There is also a need for improved communication across specialties, including allied health professions such as dentists, pharmacists etc in order to adequately address the treatment needs of older persons with multiple chronic illnesses.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- General comment No. 14 notes that the right to health should be understood in broader terms, which include the underlying determinants of health, such as access to water and sanitation, food and nutrition, education and housing. An example of this would be the sub-optimal nutrition of older persons, which is commonly linked to circumstances under which older persons are isolated, immobile and live in poverty. Education is another relevant determinant for the health of older persons. A recent study in the United States of America showed that older persons with limited literacy had a higher risk of death, compared to those with adequate literacy.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Poverty
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- International human rights law proscribes discrimination and ensures equality on a number of grounds and for a variety of groups, including older persons. Older persons are further identified by general comment No. 14 as a group especially vulnerable to violations. Treaty bodies, including CESCR, have identified older persons as a vulnerable or marginalized group, one that is potentially more susceptible to discrimination and violence. According to general comment No. 14, it is important to ensure the functionality and autonomy of older persons (E/C.12/2000/4, para. 25). This implies promotion of individual choice with respect to models of care, insofar as this is possible.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- Older women are often more disadvantaged because they may suffer from a combination of both gender and age discrimination. Ageing women make up a significant proportion of the world's population, with the majority of older women living in developing countries. A number of life-course events adversely affect the health of women in older age, including discrimination against infant girls in the provision of food and care, barriers to education, low incomes and poorer access to decent work, care-giving responsibilities as mothers and wives, domestic violence (during childhood, adulthood and elder abuse), widowhood, and cultural traditions and attitudes towards health care. Lower incomes, disruptions to work due to family responsibilities, and discrimination in access to the labour force during women's working life mean that women often have less retirement savings and are therefore more financially vulnerable in older age.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- Chronic illnesses and disability increase in prevalence with advancing age. Around half of deaths due to non-communicable diseases occur in persons aged over 70. It is estimated that 35.6 million people lived with dementia worldwide in 2010, which will increase to 65.7 million by 2030 and to 115.4 million by 2050. In light of the increasing proportion of the population who are elderly, it becomes vital that these conditions are managed in an equitable and resource-effective manner. Health systems throughout the world are generally designed to deal with acute medical conditions. They have struggled to re-model and adapt to prevent or manage the increasing number of chronic illnesses. One should also note the importance of the use of evidence-based guidelines and establishment of minimum standards of health care for common chronic conditions, and integration of their management into primary health care.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights reiterated that primary health care essentially falls under the core obligations accrued by States in fulfilling the right to health (E/C.12/2000/4, para. 43). General Comment 14 places special emphasis on the care of older persons as a vulnerable group, which requires an "integrated approach combining elements of a preventative, curative, and rehabilitative health treatment" (ibid, para. 25). It also specifies that such measures ought to include periodic check-ups and measures aimed at maintaining physical and psychological functionality. Thus, the right to health requires a constellation of activities, programs, and interventions to address primary health care of older persons as a core obligation under that right. Improving availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of primary care is essential in particular in achieving better results in the management of chronic illnesses.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- Access to primary healthcare services is also impeded by both physical and financial obstacles. Healthcare facilities might be situated too far from older persons' place of residence, with transport proving to be too expensive, inadequate, or simply unavailable. Compounding this problem is the limited mobility of older persons. They may be unable to drive, have no access to transportation, or have physical impairments that reduce their movement. Physical difficulties to access health for older persons are further reinforced by their socio-economic vulnerability, especially as access to health care is often subject to receiving a pension or to paying out-of-pocket fees. Living in poverty can also be a root cause of deterioration of older persons' health: with limited access to safe drinking water or adequate nutrition, older persons face a high risk of contracting diseases. Even where health services are accessible to older persons, they are not always adapted to their needs.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Although the growth of the older population is affecting the whole world, most of the increase is taking place in the developing world. More than half of the elderly (400 million) live in Asia, while Europe is the region with the second-largest number of older persons (nearly 161 million), followed by North America (65 million), Latin America and the Caribbean (59 million), Africa (55 million) and Oceania (5 million). On average, it is estimated that 29 million older persons will be added to the world's population each year between 2010 and 2025, and over 80 per cent of those will be added in the developing countries. By 2050, it is further projected that around 80 per cent of the elderly will live in the developing world.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur considers these compelling figures a harbinger of a quiet demographic revolution. It owes much to the significant gains achieved in many areas which have substantially increased longevity but will have far-reaching and unpredictable consequences for all countries, developed and developing alike. A rapidly ageing population presents significant challenges for the global community, in a world that is already affected by various social, economic, cultural and political challenges. The immediate consequences of longer life expectancy include increases in the prevalence of chronic and non-communicable diseases and disabilities, which, if unaddressed, could place significant burdens on health systems, strain pension and social security systems, increase demand for primary health care and put pressure on the availability and affordability of long-term care.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Developing countries will be predominantly affected by the resulting epidemiological transition, when non-communicable diseases amongst older persons increase. The broader population will however continue to struggle with communicable diseases, particularly infectious diseases and other illnesses related to poverty. Developing age-friendly services and settings, and promotion of health care and preventive medicine among older persons will strengthen the efforts of developing countries to deal with the complications of chronic and terminal non-communicable illnesses. In order to address the challenge adequately, it is essential for States to prepare themselves to meet the needs of older persons, train health professionals in old-age care, and formulate sustainable policies for long-term care.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- However, the ageing world's most important challenge is to ensure the enjoyment of human rights of older persons. It is critical that measures be put in place to eradicate discrimination and exclusion of older persons and to ensure access to services according to their needs. In a statement marking the International Day of Older Persons, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navi Pillay, pointed to the urgent need for better legal protection of older persons, a growing sector of society that is often most vulnerable and neglected, and she emphasized that "the human rights community has been slow in realizing that the global agenda and the advocacy efforts at the national level can no longer ignore the rights of older persons".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur believes that the right-to-health approach is indispensable for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of health-related policies and programmes to mitigate consequences of an ageing society and to ensure the enjoyment of this human right by older persons. Such an approach to health-related issues includes human dignity, the needs and rights of this vulnerable group, and puts emphasis on ensuring that health systems are accessible, available and affordable to all. Integrating human rights into health systems also means ensuring the principles of equality and freedom from discrimination and the empowerment of all, including the poor, allowing for their participation in decision-making processes and incorporating accountability mechanisms which they can access.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur believes that the promotion and protection of human rights of older persons is not only in the interest of senior persons, but should also be of concern to everyone, because every person ages. The right to health will not provide a magic solution to these multifaceted challenges, but it will allow shifting the discourse on older persons from a needs-based approach to a rights-based one, and enable greater articulation of the rights of older persons. Health is a fundamental human right, indispensable for the exercise of many other rights. It is necessary for living a life in dignity. This is especially true for older persons, who are often perceived as a "lapsed" segment of society and are particularly vulnerable to infringements of their right to health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur concedes that in order to be fully successful the right-to-health approach to older persons should be accompanied by a paradigm shift with respect to how society perceives ageing and older persons. The World Health Organization defines ageing as the "process of progressive change in the biological, psychological and social structure of individuals". Throughout the course of one's life, the human body's functional capacity declines from early adulthood to old age. However, increases in longevity also mean that older persons may stay active for a longer part of their lives than ever before, both in terms of occupational and non-occupational activities. Encouraging older persons to remain physically, socially and economically active for as long as possible will have benefits not only for the individual, but for society as a whole.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- Internationally recognized human rights standards and principles as contained in core international human rights treaties cover and protect older persons. Despite this tacit protection, it has increasingly been argued that there is a gap in the international human rights system because there is currently no specific universal human rights instrument on the rights of older persons. Specific provisions focusing on older persons, such as those which exist for some other categories of vulnerable persons such as women, children, persons with disabilities, and migrant workers, are also lacking.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- General comment No.14 describes legal obligations of States. The three primary obligations are to respect, protect and fulfil the right to health. The obligation to respect refers to the States' duty to refrain from interfering directly or indirectly with the right to health. In many cases, older persons are the object of State policies which may infringe upon their right to health. Examples include restrictions on the autonomy of older persons in terms of definitions of capacity without an individual determination. The obligation to protect deals with States' duty to prevent third parties, such as corporations, from interfering directly or indirectly with the right to health. This may be relevant, for example, where there is systematic abuse of the elderly in private long-term care facilities. Finally, the obligation to fulfil requires States to adopt appropriate legislative, administrative, budgetary, judicial, promotional and other measures to fully realize the right to health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- According to general comment No. 14, the right to health contains both freedoms and entitlements. The freedoms include the right to make independent decisions about one's health, which is to say freedom from State interference. For older persons, freedoms regard issues such as informed consent, autonomy and guardianship. Entitlements, which concern positive obligations of the State may, for example, include the provision of primary health care and social protection which recognizes and takes into account age-related elements, States should recognize that ageing is a lifelong process; State policy and legislation should reflect this reality. Investment in health services should be made at various stages of the life course, when risks to well-being and windows of opportunity are greatest.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- Improving the quality of care provided by primary care physician to older patients remains a challenge which is exacerbated in rural areas, where rural general medical practitioners have fewer opportunities to partner with geriatricians to deliver care to their catchment area. Dissemination of information from specialty areas into primary care should be encouraged in all areas, but is particularly important in respect of older persons, given the suitability and cost-effectiveness of the management of chronic diseases within the primary care setting.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- It is also important that primary care and prevention of chronic illness is promoted and strengthened in the developing world. A paradigm shift is necessary to detect diseases early and mitigate their effect, rather than wait until the onset of health problems. More needs to be done to stress the importance of prevention efforts, regular contact with a general practitioner or other primary health-care provider, and early diagnosis and treatment. Prevention is extremely important, as it allows reaching the individual before the disease takes hold. It needs to be emphasized that early diagnosis and prevention, long before a person grow older and preferably at the primary health-care facility, is one of the key elements in ensuring good health in old age.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- Due to resource constraints, particularly in developing countries, "best-practice" care may not always be possible. This should not deter States from taking steps to achieve the best possible outcomes for older patients in any given situation. Moreover, it has been acknowledged that personalization of care may, at times, require eschewing of more intensive services and accepting clinical outcomes that are less than the best possible health and function. Although this may still look like an anathema to some medical professionals, a shift in focus from curing to caring, particularly in older population, could be necessary to better meet the patient's personal goals. Presenting patients with options and ensuring that their desired outcomes are achieved through collaborative decision-making should be paramount in the professional-patient relationship.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- Long-term care includes a variety of services (medical or otherwise) that help meet both the medical and non-medical needs of people with a chronic illness or disability who cannot care for themselves for long periods of time. Long-term care is manifested in the provision of help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing up, cooking and so on. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), long-term care can be defined as "a range of services for people who depend on ongoing help with the activities of daily living caused by chronic conditions of physical or mental disability". In the context of the right to health, long-term care must also be understood as the intervention of skilled practitioners to provide assistance in dealing with syndromes associated with chronic diseases or disabilities impeding personal capacities. They are, nonetheless, medical conditions affecting older persons disproportionately.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- It is essential that appropriate recognition be given to those who care for older persons in informal settings, which has both benefits and risks. Informal care may allow older persons to remain in their homes, and be cared for by a familiar person, an option often preferred by the patient. It also reduces reliance on formal or institutional care, minimizing the burden on these limited resources. However, older persons are often placed, or find themselves, in informal care without a thorough assessment, exposing them to risk. Such risks include inadequate care by a person who is not equipped to provide the necessary care, as well as the risk of abuse by a caregiver. Numerous States have introduced initiatives to provide support to carers, such as financial support in lieu of lost income, and respite care, which allow older persons to stay at home as long as possible, whilst receiving good-quality care.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- Formalized long-term care of both types is already prevalent in much of the developed world. In the developing world, traditional social dynamics are also undergoing changes due to various globalizing factors. Families play a steadily less prominent role as primary health-caregiver of older persons, and government institutions and medical professionals are assuming a bigger role in care-giving. The situation is exacerbated in developing countries by the lack of adequate institutional mechanisms and absence of measures to protect the rights for older persons in the context of external and non-family care. Developed countries, where infringements on the rights of older persons also take place, feature only relatively better in developing such mechanisms.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur stresses the impact of institutionalization on the autonomy of older persons and its often harmful effect on their dignity. Loss of full independence, restricted freedom of movement and lack of access to basic functions would cause feelings of deep frustration and humiliation to any individual. Older persons are no exception to this. It is essential that complaints mechanisms are put in place to address practices that unnecessarily restrict liberty and autonomy of older persons and to enable them to reclaim their dignity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is particularly concerned about unreported violence directed against older persons in care. As with other vulnerable and marginalized groups, special attention is needed to protect older persons from abuse and to ensure that their rights are not violated in settings where they might be especially prone to violations. Abuse of older persons is defined as a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person. It is important to note that abuse is often insidious, limiting the autonomy of older persons in subtle ways. It can take various forms, including physical, psychological, emotional, sexual or financial abuse, or be affected by neglect.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- The abuse of older persons can be complex when the abusing caregiver is a relative or a family member. The frequency of elder abuse in the domestic setting, including abuse perpetrated by family members, was estimated by one study as occurring in anywhere between 2 and 10 per cent of all cases. In an institutional setting incidences of abuse are even harder to ascertain Abuse may also take the form of prejudicial and discriminatory attitudes and acts, which manifests itself through paternalism towards older persons in care, leaving them feeling humiliated, infantilized, and robbing them of the identity they otherwise have as human beings.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- In some instances, health-care workers themselves may not even recognize instances of abuse. Health-care workers should therefore be trained and assisted in identifying possible cases of abuse. Models of such training and intervention are used in cases of domestic abuse and may serve as workable models for dealing with recognition and treatment of the abuse of older persons. Health-care workers need to become aware of the possibility that a patient may be a victim of abuse and be able to manage health-related interactions, in a way which would make the abused individuals feel comfortable discussing their particular situation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- Various initiatives have been adopted in the area of domestic violence, particularly in respect of violence towards women, which could be drawn upon to raise awareness of abuse of older persons amongst medical professionals and the wider community. In addition to increased training, procedures need to be put in place for reporting abuses and addressing the consequences. For example, the 2006 Older Persons Act of South Africa, inter alia, requires a person who may witness the abuse of an older person, not only physical but also psychological, sexual, and economic abuse, to report the violation. The Act also establishes a system in which abusers of older persons are investigated and registered with a view to prohibiting them from operating or being employed in a residential facility or community-based care for older persons.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- Palliative care has grown significantly in the last 30 years and is progressively implemented within national health systems, although this has been done to varying extents. The wide range of measures taken in different States shows the growing importance of ensuring quality of life of older persons towards the end of their lives and providing support for their families. In some countries palliative care is recognized only in the context of certain chronic diseases such as cancer. Other States have integrated palliative care into their national health legislation and plans of action and created institutions which are devoted to palliative care. Some other countries have placed obligations on health institutions to have staff qualified in palliative care or have established group of experts on the issue.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- Several issues arise with respect to the provision of palliative care to older persons, one of which concerns availability of palliative care and in particular, medicines utilized in such care. Moderate to severe pain is a common by-product of illnesses requiring palliative care, for which opioid-based analgesics are commonly prescribed. State parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are required, as a core obligation under the Covenant, to ensure provision of essential drugs as defined under the WHO Action Programme on Essential Drugs. Despite this and the fact that oral morphine and other narcotic preparations are inexpensive and should not be difficult to obtain, the availability of such medications used in palliative care is often limited. That is due to a number of factors, such as restrictive drug regulations, failure to implement a properly functioning supply and distribution system, and inadequate health-care system capacity. Particularly concerning is the complex international narcotic control framework that severely inhibits access to medicines regulated under the framework. Even when such medications are available, there often remains a lack of understanding of palliative care and the use of narcotics in pain relief amongst medical practitioners. More comprehensive training on palliative care and the use of narcotic drugs is needed. These barriers to availability of good quality palliative care are not unique to older persons as a group, but older persons are disproportionately affected due to the increased incidence of chronic and terminal illness amongst them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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