multi-sectoral education in the field of ageing: the maltese experience professor dr. joseph troisi...

MULTI-SECTORAL EDUCATION IN THE FIELD OF AGEING: THE MALTESE EXPERIENCE

Professor Dr. Joseph TROISIDirectorInternational Institute on AgeingUnited Nations-Malta

IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing Prague, Czech Republic, May 28-June 1, 2012

Population ageing poses unique challenges to every society. It has profound effects on every aspect of individual, community, national and international life. The significant increase in life expectancy unavoidably implies not only a heightened demand for existing support services but also for new services and alternative approaches.

Joseph TROISI, International Institute on Ageing, UN-Malta

Consequently, new approaches to medical care and the delivery of social and economic services are needed. The non-achievement of such standards would result in dire consequences including unnecessary suffering and prolonged dependence among the older persons involved.


A very serious deficiency being faced by many countries, especially in the developing world, in the economic, social and health planning to meet the challenges of population ageing is the pronounced scarcity of trained caregivers.


CAPACITY BUILDING

As was emphasised in the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing itself and in various UN General Assemblies, the very implementation of the Plan fundamentally requires two essential facets which though distinct are intrinsically related.


These are: national capacity building and the mainstreaming of ageing into national development policies and programmes on ageing.


The report of the Secretary-General entitled Follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing delivered at the sixty-first session of the General Assembly in 2006, highlights the fact that the existence of national plans of action, programmes and services, although important, are not by themselves effective indicators of a country’s implementation of the recommendations of the Madrid Plan.


These depend fully on the individual country’s human capacity to implement and oversee these policies and programmes. Capacity building is thus aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to meet these needs in various sectors be they economic, legal, medical, political, social, etc.


One of the five essential elements of national capacity building highlighted in the Secretary-General’s report, in the light of the recommendations of the Madrid Plan of Action, is Human Resource Development which “encompasses investment in training for the acquisition of skills in crucial areas of expertise”. It is seen as the key element of any effort made at capacity-building.


EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Although in many countries the need for training in the fields of geriatrics and gerontology has been recognised, this recognition has not yet been translated into action as one would have expected.


When referring to education and training in the various aspects of ageing, there is the danger of restricting them to high levels of specialisation given at universities resulting in the production of geriatricians and gerontologists.


In short it can be said that education in the field of ageing needs to be multi-sectoral in nature covering: 1) levels of specialisation for the professionals; 2) those who directly work in the field of ageing or/and with older persons; and 3) the older persons themselves.


The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002 constantly reiterated, in various articles, the importance of training and of having trained personnel. Issue 4 in the Second Priority Direction is totally devoted to the training of care providers and health professionals.


Article 82 states “there is an urgent worldwide need to expand educational opportunities in the fields of geriatrics and gerontology for all health professionals who work with older persons and to expand educational programmes on health and older persons for professionals in the social service sector”.


However, the same Plan emphasises the fact that the need of education and training is not only limited to the health professionals and the formal carers but should be open to all and at all levels. Moreover, because of the multi-faceted nature of aging, the two Plans of Action emphasise the need of developing multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary education and training programmes.


A number of countries stand today at a critical turning point for confronting the challenges and issues generated by the rapidly growing older population. In order to meet the special needs of this phenomenon adequately, training of personnel has become a major issue that needs to be tackled with urgency, lest events overtake history.


THE MALTESE EXPERIENCE

For a number of years, Malta has been playing a very important role in the field of ageing.

In fact in 1969, a resolution tabled by the Maltese government to consider the phenomenon of population ageing as a global phenomenon and to give it priority consideration was unanimously accepted by the UN General Assembly at its twenty-fourth session.


Malta’s role in instigating the international community’s concern about the world’s ageing population found its fruition in the first World Assembly on Ageing in 1982


The First World Assembly on Ageing, and the ensuing Vienna International Plan of Action on Aging, the United Nations General Assembly, in its Resolution 37/51 recommended ‘inter alia’ the promotion of training and research, as well as the exchange of information and knowledge in order to provide an international basis for social policies and action.


International Institute on Ageing, United Nations-Malta (INIA)

As a result of its Resolution 1987/51, the UN Economic and Social Council recommended to the Secretary-General, the establishment of the International Institute on Aging (INIA). On the 9th October 1987, the United Nations signed an agreement with the Government of Malta to establish the Institute as an autonomous body under the auspices of the United Nations.


The Institute was inaugurated on the 15th April 1988 by the then UN Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar.


Its mandate is tripartite in nature namely: 1) To train personnel from developing countries who are working or who intend to work in the field of ageing or with older persons; 2) To provide advocacy to developing countries in matters concerning capacity building concerning ageing and older persons; and 3) To act as a practical bridge between developed and developing countries in the area of information exchange in the field of ageing.


Activities

Training and Capacity BuildingTraining and Capacity Building NetworkingNetworking ResearchResearch PublicationsPublications International Meetings and ForaInternational Meetings and Fora


Training and Capacity Building

Main Activity – 3 phases

Training in Malta ‘In-Situ’ programmes Satellite Centres


INIA provides multi-disciplinary education and training by annually running, in Malta, short-training programmes of two weeks’ duration in Social Gerontology, Economic and Financial Aspects of Ageing,Health Promotion, Quality of Life and Well-being Policy Formulation, Planning, Implementation of MIPAA Demographic Aspects of Population Ageing


Almost 2,100 persons working in the field of ageing from 151 countries all over the world benefitted from the capacity building programmes held in Malta.


In 1995, INIA started running ‘in situ’ training programmes. Aware of the great heterogeneity which exists in the field of ageing and among older persons themselves, these are tailored to the specific needs and situations of the older persons in each of the countries or regions concerned.


During the past 16 years such training programmes have been carried out in the following 24 countries.


Almost 1,700 participants benefitted from these ‘in situ’ programmes. The participants in the ‘in situ’ programmes tend to be not only more homogenous but also more familiar with the national or local situations.


In order to be better equipped in implementing its mandate in human resource developing and training in the field of ageing, INIA has set up five satellite centres in China, in India for the seven SARC countries, in Singapore for the ten ASEAN countries, in St.Petersburg for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and in Tunisia for the Maghreb countries.


INIA also provides advocacy to governments to help them in formulating and implementing national and local policies and programmes in the field of ageing. Such a service has been provided to the governments of Bahrain, Croatia, Egypt, India, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan and Tunisia.


To implement its UN given mandate, INIA closely collaborates with various UN bodies and agencies, the United Nations Regional Commissions, etc. INIA’s collaborative partners also include other international and national organisations, universities and non-governmental organisations.


The Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Malta

Education in the field of ageing needs to be multi-sectoral in nature covering:

Levels of specialisation for the professionals;

Those who directly work with older persons;

The older persons themselves


In line with the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, Malta once again was at the forefront and, in 1986, set up within its University, one of the oldest in the Mediterranean, the Institute of Gerontology aimed at providing multi-disciplinary academic education and research in the field of ageing.


Following its mandate, it conducts postgraduate multi-disciplinary academic education: in-service programmes for carers of older persons; pre-retirement programmes; a University of the Third Age; the running of a radio programme to promote the quality of life of older persons and to educate the general public.


Postgraduate multi-disciplinary programmes leading to a Master (M.Ger.) and a Doctorate in Gerontology & Geriatrics (Ph.D.Ger.). These academic programmes provide opportunities for correlation of theory and practice, experience in innovative practice, service planning and delivery.


In-Service training programmes The government of Malta firmly believes that para-professionals and primary care workers should have the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to facilitate good care namely concern, treatment of older persons in their localities.


To meet this need the Institute initiated two-weeks intensive programmes for all those working in the care of Older persons in the formal sector. Each programme consists of lectures, discussions and site visits.


Pre-Retirement Programmes In 1997, the Institute set up pre-retirement programmes aimed at enabling workers in the public and private sector who will be retiring from active employment to prepare themselves to a new style of life, socially, economically, psychologically, health wise, etc.


Each programme normally consists of between 14-16 sessions each of two hours duration. Every session is made up of an animated lecture and a discussion. Participants are encouraged to play an active role.

Joseph TROISI, International Institute on Ageing, UN-MaltaJoseph TROISI, International Institute on Ageing, UN-Malta

University of the Third Age (U3A) One of the very effective modern forms of participation of older persons in the process of development is the establishment of the Universities of the Third Age. It was precisely in this light that in January 1993 the Institute of Gerontology set up the University of the Third Age in Malta.


The aim of the U3A is knowledge for its own sake. It does not ask for special qualifications for enrolment nor does it grant any certificates or diplomas. Membership is open to all those above the age of 60. Members come from all walks of life.


Radio Programme. In January 1993, the Institute was requested by the Maltese Public Broadcasting Services Corporation to produce and present a weekly one hour educational programme for one of the national radio stations.


In its own way this radio programme which has an overall holistic approach is bringing about a change in perspective. On the one hand, it is helping older persons to improve their quality of life and well-being. On the other hand, it is promoting a positive image of older persons eradicating negative stereotypes and attitudes of the general public.


CONCLUSION

The gap between the projected increases of the older population and the consequently required services, combined with the parallel development of the personnel needed to carry out these services, creates a pressing and urgent need to train appropriate staff.


The challenges ahead of us, especially in the coming thirty years are huge. Our work is a drop in the ocean. However, we are very optimistic that together we can surely help countries to prepare themselves to meeting the challenges of population ageing by implementing the Priority Directions of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.


THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

multi-sectoral education in the field of ageing: the maltese experience professor dr. joseph troisi...

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