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#BTColumn – Digital equity for all ages (Part 2)

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by Wayne Campbell

This is Part Two of this Guest Column which first appeared on October 21, 2021: Page 16.

“Ageing is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”– Betty Freidan

Physical Activity and Dementia

Physical exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, contributing to general fitness, muscle control and coordination. Several studies have found that physical activity in early, mid and late life is associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states dementia is not a specific disease but is rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interfere with doing everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.

Although dementia mostly affects older adults, it is not a part of normal aging. For older adults, a lack of exercise may put their risk of developing dementia on par with that of adults who are genetically predisposed to the disease.

This is the conclusion of a new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

The World Health Organisation states that there are around 47.5 million people living with dementia. By 2030, this number is expected to rise to approximately 75.6 million.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for about 60-80 percent of all cases.

In the United States alone, an estimated 5.4 million people have Alzheimer’s. One of the biggest risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease is the apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 gene.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, adults who possess one copy of the APOE e4 gene are three times more likely to develop the disease than those without the gene, while those with two copies are 8-12 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

Digital equity for all ages

The 2021 theme “Digital Equity for All Ages” affirms the need for access and meaningful participation in the digital world by older persons.

The digital divide still persists between more and less connected countries, communities, and people.

In Jamaica, many older members of the society were unable to access the social media platforms in order to schedule appointments for their COVID-19 vaccinations.

There are many seniors who live alone whether by choice or circumstance.  In order to usher in a culture of digital equity there needs to be a collaborative effort between youth and seniors.

Enabling access and use of digital technologies and closing digital divides remains a challenge that needs to be addressed if the international community is to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Interestingly, the fourth industrial revolution characterised by rapid digital innovation and by exponential growth has transformed all sectors of society, including how we live, work and relate to one another.

Technological advances offer great expectation for accelerating movement towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Yet, one-half of the global population is off-line, with the starkest contrast between the most developed countries (87 per cent) and the least developed countries (19 per cent).

Additionally, recent reports by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) indicate that women and older persons experience digital inequity to a greater extent than other groups in society; they either lack access to technologies, or are often not benefitting fully from the opportunities provided by technological progress.

Perception of the aged

Regrettably, too many senior citizens are still experiencing digital inequity despite some progress to close the digital divide among seniors; this is problematic and must be addressed.

International Day of the Older Persons should be used to dismantle the discrimination many older folks experience.

The day is set aside to raise awareness of the varied issues the elderly face. These societal issues range from affordable healthcare; health insurance; social security; care giving, elder abuse, social fellowship, ageism and affordable housing. Ageism refers to prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping against someone based on his or her age.

Thankfully, the negative perception of the aged has changed and continues to change for the better. Societies have benefitted from retired individuals taking on employment to the overall development of societies.

It is imperative that those tasked with the responsibility for shaping public policy regarding seniors must be mindful that the needs of older men are different from those of older women and as such we must ensure that such policies are gender sensitive in terms of their implementation and scope. Perhaps it’s time to have a Ministry of Elder Affairs to focus solely on the varied issues of older persons. International Day of Older Persons was celebrated on October 1.

In the words of Cindy McDonald, ageing is not an option, not for anyone. It is how gracefully we handle the process and how lucky we are, as the process handles us.

Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com

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