| New York (Fides Service) - On October 4 in New York addressing the Second UN World Assembly on Ageing Archbishop Celestino Migliore Apostolic Nuncio Permanent Observer of the Holy See reiterated the Holy See’s description of the elderly in the first such meeting in Madrid in 2002 “Guardians of the collective memory, conservers of inter-generational relationships and transmitters of authentic values” and he added “we need to remind ourselves that these noble sentiments will remain empty words if we remember the elderly only when we need them”.
In many societies, caring for dependent and sick individuals is done by older people, particularly older women. In that context, it is important that the availability of, and access to primary health care for older persons be integrated within a larger process of development, with a focus on their specific medical needs and adequate nutrition..
The social protection of the elderly is a main responsibility of Governments and private institutions, the Holy See reaffirms the important role also of the family in their comprehensive security, as well as in mental, physical and spiritual health.
At present, Catholic agencies and organisations in every continent care for the aged in over 13,000 facilities, including more than 500 centres in Africa, 3,000 in the Americas and 1,400 in Asia.
According to the statistics, today there are more than six hundred million people who are over sixty years of age, and it is estimated that by 2050 they will be more than three times that number. It is also calculated that by 2030, 71% of this elderly population will live in developing countries and between 12% and 16% will be in developed countries. (AP) (5/9/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:25 Parole:279)
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