Observations
In France, 750,000 older adults are socially isolated, with no meaningful contact with those around them.
Social isolation is just as harmful to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Every country in the world is experiencing growth in both the number and the proportion of older adults in the population.
By 2030, one in six people worldwide will be 60 or older. At the same time, the population aged 60 and older will grow from 1 billion in 2020 to 1.4 billion.
By 2050, 80% of older adults will live in low- or middle-income countries.
Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of people aged 60 and older in the world’s population will nearly double, rising from 12% to 22%.
In 2020, the number of people aged 60 and older exceeded the number of children under the age of five.
vision
Understanding to Take Better Action
Around the world, societies are undergoing a profound demographic transformation: the population is aging, and the number of older adults is growing rapidly. In many countries, this trend is accompanied by an increased risk of social isolation for older adults. Through its network of organizations dedicated to serving older adults, the International Federation of Petits Frères des Pauvres witnesses, on a daily basis, the realities faced by isolated older adults in various cultural, social, and economic contexts.
To better understand these issues and contribute to the collective discussion, the Federation aims to establish an International Observatory on Aging and the Isolation of Older Adults. The Federation’s goal is to provide a space for sharing knowledge and experiences. It seeks to disseminate resources on these issues, which today affect all societies.
Sharing experiences and knowledge
The international network of Petits Frères des Pauvres operates in several regions around the world and works in a wide variety of contexts. This diversity is a valuable asset for better understanding the many forms that isolation among older adults can take and its consequences.
The Observatory thus aims to bring together diverse perspectives and experiences by combining on-the-ground knowledge, research, and analyses from stakeholders working in the field of aging.
This approach also helps raise awareness of the realities faced by isolated older adults and strengthens understanding of these issues on an international scale.
First objectives
Contributing to Public Debate
By sharing knowledge, analysis and personal experiences, the International Federation aims to contribute to a better understanding of the challenges associated with population ageing. The issues raised by ageing populations are often given insufficient attention, or sometimes overlooked altogether, even though they will play a key role in shaping the balance and sustainability of tomorrow’s societies.
The Federattion’s aim is to contribute to public debate and to the discussions led by organizations, institutions and decision-makers. It serves as a resource for policies and initiatives aimed at better preventing and addressing social isolation and vulnerability among older people.
Call for Contributions
The Federation is designed to be a learning collaborative and agent for social change in member countries and internationally.
The Fédération internationale des Petits Frères des Pauvres aims to bring together organizations, researchers, institutions and practitioners interested in the challenges of ageing and social isolation among older people.
Would you like to share a resource, study or initiative?
Would you like to contribute to the discussion or follow the work of the Federation?