Aging with Dignity: Cross-national Perspectives

SW736, Section 001

Population aging is happening in many developed and developing nations. The lengthening of life expectancy puts strains on informal and formal support systems for older people, but also offers unique opportunities to individuals and societies. As policy makers tackle the challenges brought along by such demographic transitions, aging with dignity may offer a principle and a guide. Aging with dignity is a human right entitled to everyone, regardless of socio-demographic background, sexual orientation, religion, or physical and mental capacity. To be able to age with dignity, basic needs of older people have to be met. Unfortunately, in the United States and other parts of the world, it is far too often to see these rights being ignored or violated, particularly for individuals from socially disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. This course will compare and contrast policies and programs of several nations that protect (or fail to protect) the right to age with dignity. The overall objectives of the course are to increase students’ knowledge specific to international best practices to meet the basics needs of older persons, to expand their repertoire of ‘alternatives’ to address some of the ‘tough’ aging policy issues in the United States, and to enable them to advocate for an agenda to promote and protect aging with dignity.