New global figures reveal large number of elderly people in need of care at the end of life
Older people at the end of life are missing out on vital care and support because of a lack of access to palliative care services.
New estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), released today ahead of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (13 October), show that around 24 million adults require palliative care at the end of life each year. 66% of these are over 60 years old.
Despite this growing need, 42% of countries still have no identified hospice and palliative care service, while 80% of people globally lack adequate access to medication for treatment of moderate to severe pain. This means millions of older people, especially in the developing world, are living and dying in unnecessary pain and distress.
This World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA) is warning that an urgent response is needed to improve palliative care for older people and meet the growing needs of the world’s ageing populations.
To ensure all older people with life-limiting conditions are cared for with dignity and according to their wishes, the WPCA is today calling for palliative care to integrated into national and community health systems around the world.
Dr John Beard, Director of the Department of Ageing and Life Course at WHO, said:
“The main focus of health services is generally on preventing, curing or managing disease. But one of the things that is often neglected is providing quality care at the end of life.
“Millions of people today die in needless suffering simply because they are denied access to appropriate pain relief and social support. This care is not expensive, and everyone has a right to it.”
There is often a misconception that palliative care is primarily for people with cancer. This is not true. The latest estimates from WHO show that older people with a range of conditions require palliative care and that in many disease groups the over 60s are the largest group in need. Globally, those in need of palliative care dying from Alzheimer and other dementias, Parkinson disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, nephritis and nephrosis and cancer are predominantly in the over 60s age group.
Sharon Baxter from the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance and Executive Director of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association commented:
“World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is a day of celebration for the progress that has been made in reducing pain and suffering. But it is also a day to shine a light on neglected or marginalised groups that are unable to get the care that they require.
“It is totally unacceptable that older people, wherever they are based, are unable to access the care that they need to live and die with dignity and respect. With the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases and the ageing of the HIV pandemic, it is even more pressing that urgent action is taken.”
Emmanuel Luriyika from the African Palliative Care Association added:
“In Africa, with an ageing population and an increased burden of disease, there is a huge strain on palliative care services. Today’s estimated figures from WHO are shocking. But when you also consider the palliative care needs of older people from the point of diagnosis, rather than just at the end of life, the figures of those in need are likely to be significantly higher. It is also vital that we remember the important role of the carers and family members of older people who also need support from palliative care services.”
To mark this unified day of action, advocates, patients and carers are together calling for urgent action from UN agencies, governments, the private sector and civil society to improve access to palliative care for older people with life-limiting conditions by integrating palliative care into existing services.
This World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2012 thousands of people in around 60 countries are coming together at more than 1,000 events to celebrate, support and speak up about hospice and palliative care.
To find out more about World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2012 visit www.worldday.org
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Media enquiries
Vanessa Sherry, Communications Officer
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
[email protected] or 613-241-3663 ext. 229
About World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2012
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day on 13 October 2012 is a unified day of action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world. This year’s theme is ‘Living to the end: Palliative care for an ageing population’.
To mark the day thousands of people in around 60 countries are coming together at more than 1,000 events to celebrate, support and speak up about hospice and palliative care. Events around the world include awareness walks in India and Nigeria, film showings and gala premiers in the US and Hong Kong, football matches in Uganda and Kenya, the establishment of a new palliative care centre in Iran and the training of nurses in Guatemala.
Populations are ageing with vast numbers of people around the globe living into old age. Increasingly, older people are living with and dying from multiple, chronic debilitating conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes cancer, dementia and HIV and AIDS. Older people must have access to appropriate care, support and treatment, which recognises their contribution to society and is tailored to their individual needs through the course of illness, including at the end of life. Unfortunately palliative care is very rarely available.
This World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, palliative care organisations are calling for urgent action from UN agencies, governments, the private sector and civil society to ensure the following:
- the inclusion of older people in the decision-making around their care options, including at the end of life
- existing health policies address the unique palliative care needs of older people
- universal access to hospice and palliative care for older people living with, and dying from, life-limiting conditions including non-communicable conditions
- access to, and availability of, pain medications, including oral opioids, for older people worldwide
- adequate support, training, supplies and equipment so that health professionals and carers can provide palliative care for older people in the community, in inpatient facilities and in people’s own homes
- the advocacy agenda on active ageing promotes compassionate and dignified care for older people with life-limiting illnesses