City’s healthy ageing commitment lauded

07 August 2015

 

The Healthy Ageing Society of Africa (HASOA) has applauded the City of Johannesburg for its commitment to ensuring that residents in their twilight years enjoy an improved quality of life.

 

Speaking after the conclusion of the World Congress on Healthy Ageing held over four days at the Sandton Convention Centre, HASOA Director Dr Ryan Fuller said there was clear evidence during the deliberations that all stakeholders had built “multiple bridges” to improve the lives of elderly people.

 

“Creating an innovative conference needs commitment from a variety of stakeholders, not least of whom are the representatives of the host city. We are delighted to have had the City of Johannesburg involved in the conference and honoured to have had the Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau opening the conference., said Dr Fuller, who is also World Congress on Healthy Ageing’s Scientific Chairman.

 

Officially opening the congress on Friday July 31, Mayor Tau said some of the resolutions taken at the event would, where appropriate, be considered for possible implementation for the benefit of the city’s elderly.

 

He said he would make it his personal responsibility during the next mayoral meeting to ensure that there was feedback on the lessons gained from the congress and their planned implementation.

The congress, held on African soil for the first time since its inception in 2009, was attended by more than 1 500 delegates from 28 countries and addressed by no fewer than 90 local and international speakers. 

 

In his wrap of the conference, Dr Fuller said HASOA was firmly committed to pursuing legacy projects such as mapping health-seeking behaviour among the elderly and to enable people to make a choice to live better and longer.

 

“We’re pleased that the importance of positive ageing will continue to be highlighted as HASOA establishes itself and starts to work with stakeholders across the continent to ensure that healthy ageing remains a priority for healthcare professionals and the general public,” added Dr Fuller.

 

The conference, held under the theme “Bridging the Ageing Divide”, revealed several divides – from birth to old age, between developed and developing countries, between public and private sectors, between urban and rural communities, between technological and traditional healthcare practices, and between diverse and creative cultures, according HASOA Director Justin Hawes. 

 

He said the conference not only delivered excellent expert speakers from across the globe – “who spoke on issues such as diet, exercise, sexuality, caregiver burnout, ageing and technology, and healthy cities” – but it also created a platform for academics to connect with caregivers and consumers “in a way that has never happened before”.

 

During the closing ceremony, Istanbul was announced as the host city for the next World Congress on Healthy Ageing, to take place in 2018.

 

City of Johannesburg Executive Director of Health Dr Refik Bismilla presented a plaque to Turkish Ambassador to South Africa Kaan Esener to mark the handover.

 

One of the expert speakers, Dr Bradley Wilcox, recommended diet changes to increase healthy ageing.  “To increase longevity, a recommended diet of soy, fish, lean meats, vegetables, some fruits and low GI grains and legumes should be adopted,” he said.

 

Dr Elna McIntosh, a sexologist at the Disa Clinic in Sandton, said longevity could be achieved by focusing on improving relationships with one’s spouse or partner.

 

“There are four important T’s to nurture in any relationship. These are talk, touch, time and trust. Nurturing your relationship and enjoying regular and safer sexual relations is really good for longevity and positive ageing,” she said.

 

Other speakers’ tips to improve longevity included:

 

 Keeping a positive outlook (former Springbok rugby player Joel Stransky);

 Internalising positive emotional content, making time for family and giving back to the community (former Leeds United, Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs captain Lucas Radebe); and

 Decreasing the number of calories one consumes (urologist and sexual health expert Prof Shingai Mutambirwa) and ensuring you get enough sleep (Dr Jumel Bornilla).