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Older persons in emergency situations: lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the increased vulnerability of older persons in emergency situations, and uncovered shortcomings in disaster preparedness and response strategies to the pandemic globally. The Policy Seminar provided an opportunity for members of the Standing Working Group on Ageing and other stakeholders to reflect on the first lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic in UNECE region as regards upholding the dignity and human rights of older persons in emergency situations. In particular, discussions focused on access to essential goods and health and long-term care services, sensitivity to specific needs and preferences, and ensuring that mental well-being and dignity of older persons are safeguarded.
Target Group
The policy seminar was designed for national focal points on ageing, members of the Standing Working Group on Ageing, as well as experts on long-term care systems and services, civil society representatives and other stakeholders in the UNECE region. Around 130 delegates from 41 countries participated in the seminar.
Information
The Policy seminar took place on 18 November 2020 in the form of a webinar consisting of two sessions (morning, afternoon) each of 2.5 hours. English-Russian interpretation during the policy webinar was provided by the UNFPA Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Concept Note and Programme (EN - RU)
Policy Brief on Ageing No 25 "Older Persons in Emergency Situations"
| Presentations | ||||
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| Click icon/link to open/download | ||||
| Report | ||||
| Opening session | ||||
| Adelina Comas-Herrera London School of Economics, Care Policy and Evaluation Centre |
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| Session 1 - Ageism and COVID-19 in the UNECE Region | ||||
| Silvia Perel Levin, NGO Committee on Ageing, Geneva |
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| Ruud Dirkse Bureau for Healthcare-innovation, Netherlands |
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| Erika Winkler Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Austria |
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| Session 2 - COVID-19 and older persons in residential care facilities | ||||
| Giovanni Lamura INRCA - Centre for Social and Economic Research on Ageing, Italy |
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| Natasa Todorovic Red Cross of Serbia |
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| Pia Pulkkinen Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare |
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| Jennifer Zelmer Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement |
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| Session 3 - Reaching out to older persons in need of care at home or in the community | ||||
| Assiya Akanova Centre for Active Ageing in Almaty, Kazakhstan |
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| Sean Moynihan NGO Alone, Ireland |
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| Aliona Cretu Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection, Republic of Moldova |
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| Yossi Heyman JDC Eshel, Israel |
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| Bios of Speakers | ||||