Wednesday 1st October 2025 is International Day of Older People,

What defines an older person?

A rather silly comment.

Why not look at the United Nations pages on this? It might stimulate a discussion about the global implications of ageing populations. It's a huge topic.

www.un.org/en/observances/older-persons-day

www.un.org/en/global-issues/ageing

My post above was to infoman, grumppa.

The UN defines it as 65 or older.

Thanks for the info.
Didn't know that such a thing existed.

My GP tells me it is 75 and overs who are deemed elderly. You are officially decrepit when you hit your 3/4 of a century. I must admit that I have never heard of it. At 77 years of age, 3 of these annual days has passed me by so it can't be anything earth shattering. Still, nice to know.

The menopause has had loads of attention lately and I think it’s time Old Age was discussed more widely.
It’s a time of huge change with only one outcome. On the way we may become ugly, ill, incontinent or demented. We lose our dignity and independence. Our numbers are soaring yet nobody’s yet devised a bleach bottle we can open.
One day in the year is probably all that most people want to give a moment’s thought to their own future.

Doesn't the UN have anything more pressing to do? How about International Do Some Real Work Day?

What a silly comment. Perhaps take a look at the UN website before scoffing.

The United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons on 14 December 1990.

The 2025 United Nations International Day of Older Persons, observed under the theme “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being and Our Rights”, highlights the transformative role older persons play in building resilient and equitable societies. Far from being passive beneficiaries, older persons are drivers of progress, contributing their knowledge and experience in areas such as health equity, financial well-being, community resilience, and human rights advocacy.

Perhaps you disagree that older people have an important role to play in society or that countries all over the world need to plan to meet the needs of an ageing population and that we should be part of that discussion.

The majority of us get old so is short sighted not to have debates around this and how our societies can become more ‘old age’ friendly, rather than just seeing it as an inconvenient phase before death.
Older people can still participate and contribute as long as enjoying good health, and no doubt this is apparent from the sheer numbers of grandparents caring for GCs so their ACs can work. This is not only good for our ACs but for the economy.
And so many older people still work beyond retirement age.
But there is a lot of work to be done for older people whose poor health is often down to poverty, being marginalised, and loneliness, and perhaps the amount of money spent by the NHS dealing with this could better be spent in public services for older people providing day centres with meals provided etc., and outreach projects providing support for older people in their homes.
And that’s before we look at older people globally. Huge issues and well worth a conversation.

infoman

Do you think that those who it applys too, will get any better service on Wednesday 1st October 2025?

Nope, and most people won’t even have heard of it, just like Grandparents Day.

‘ an inconvenient phase before death’ oh I do like that phrase 😂

No. I think we will still be invisible 😂

Of course older people contribute and governments should do more to support them but I doubt a wordy UN resolution will have any noticeable effect. Not scoffing, just commonsense.