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Pension | Health | Elder Rights | GAA Blog
PENSION
UNITED
STATES
California
State Pension Funds Going Broke, Stanford Study Finds (April 5,
2010)
According to a new report generated by five graduate students
in Stanford's Graduate Public Policy Program, California public employee pension
systems are worse off than anyone previously projected. The students examined
public records of the past performance of three pension funds and ran computer
simulations to predict the unfunded liabilities of the pension funds over the
next 16 years. The results are overwhelming: California will need to invest at
least $200 billion today to return the fund to a minimum responsible level of
funding.
Pension
Funds Fail to Reap Private Equity's Rewards (April 3, 2010)
According
to a new analysis conducted for The New York Times, the nation's 10 largest
public pension funds have paid private equity firms more than $17 billion in
fees since 2000, as the funds flocked to these so-called alternative investments
in hopes of reaping market-beating returns. However, studies show that private
equity funds underperformed the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index by 3
percent annually from 1980 to 2003, after accounting for
fees.
WORLD
France:
Beginning Pension Reform April 12 (April 9, 2010)
(Article in
French)
Consultations between the French government and trade unions
about the pension reform will start on April 12. The government will reveal the
content of this reform in June. But, it appears clear that it will include an
extension of working years for the employed. To the contrary, trade unions ask
to maintain the retirement age at 60 years of age. Pensions in the public sector
will be discussed separately from pensions in the private sector.
Russia:
A Raise in Retirement Age May Happen After 2020 (April 9,
2010)
(Article in Russian)
It is too early to talk about
raising the retirement age, says the chairman of the State Duma, Andrey Isaev.
"We can come back to this topic around 2020." He also stated, "The challenge is
to ensure a life expectancy of at least 75 years. If that is achieved, only then
we can talk about raising the retirement age."
Russia:
People are Ready to Die Before Retirement (April 8,
2010)
(Article in Russian)
The retirement age may be
raised. Presidential Assistant Arkady Dvorkovich believes that will happen. Yet,
if the retirement age is raised, most men will not survive to experience the
happy event called retirement.
Ireland:
Pension Win for Farmers' Wives (April 8, 2010)
Newly appointed
Social Protection Minister Eamon O Cuiv yesterday reversed the January decision
by his predecessor Mary Hanafin to withdraw pensions from 268 elderly women who
had been receiving contributory pensions for years of work on their family
farms. This decision followed advice from the Attorney General's office and will
be effective retroactively to the date on which pensions were withdrawn or
reduced. All arrears due would be paid.
France:
Pension: Call for Citizen Mobilization (April 7, 2010)
(Article in
French)
The Copernic Foundation and the anti-globalization association
ATTAC launched a petition on April 7 to protest the French government's pension
reform. They believe that this reform will condemn many retired people to
poverty; they propose to increase the tax on company revenues to solve the
problem instead of making people work longer. A well-known French sociologist
and some influential politicians signed on to the protest.
United
Kingdom: CBI Demands Probe of Public Sector Pensions (April 6,
2010)
Soon after the increase in the qualifying age for workers
standing to gain "non-revised" (non-contributory) public sector pensions by the
Scottish Chambers of Commerce, business leaders demanded that the next
government embark on a probe of public sector pension costs.
South
Africa: 60-Year-Olds Urged to Apply for Pension (April 6, 2010)
The
Black Sash, a non- governmental human rights organization in South Africa, has
announced that the qualifying age for men for the means-tested pension is now
equivalent to that for women. This will bring needed relief to thousands of
senior citizens. The Black Sash intends to advocate for the removal of the means
test from the qualifications assessment. They are advocating for a universal old
age pension.
Sri
Lanka: Sri Lankan Farmers Get Pensions (April 5, 2010)
The Sri Lankan
government has taken measures to provide a pension to the country's farmers who
reach 60 years of age and become members of an insurance plan. Many governments
don't recognize farmers as "workers:" Most of them do not receive a fixed income
from their livelihood. The new insurance provisions are a way for them to draw
benefits they would not otherwise receive.
Russia:
Pensioners of Primorye are Becoming Victims of Crimes (April 5,
2010)
(Article in Russian)
Primorsky Krai seems to favor
different robberies, especially robberies of apartments. What seems to be most
surprising is the fact that most of the apartment robberies happen with "ease of
free access". That means that the doors or windows through which robbers get in
are unlocked. The elderly appear most often to be the victims of such
crimes.
Ukraine:
Good News for Ukrainian Pensioners (April 4, 2010)
(Article in
Russian)
The retirement age in Ukraine will not be raised in the year
2010. The government currently sees no need for such action. According to media
sources, Vasily Ndraga, Ukraine's Minister of Labour and Social Policy,
announced this development.
China:
2010 Average Pension At Shanxi Province Will Reach 1382 Yuan Per Month (March
28, 2010)
(Article in Chinese)
As the average pension
increases, the Shanxi Department of Human Resources and Social Security will
develop a pension reform pilot project designed for non-rural seniors who have
no job and those who work at state-owned enterprises but have passed the age of
joining the pension system.
Georgia:
Georgian Opposition Accuses Authorities of Using Pensioners for Elections (March
26, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
The Georgian opposition to
the current government has raised new allegations against the authorities of the
country. The Conservative Party of Georgia filed a complaint with the mayor of
Tbilisi, with the accusation that the City Council uses programs created
especially for senior citizens for its own electoral purposes.
HEALTH
UNITED
STATES
Immigration:
Could It Solve Social Security, Medicare Woes? (April 11, 2010)
This
year is the first year that Social Security will pay out more in benefits than
it receives in payroll taxes. In the face of our draining Social Security and
Medicare funds, Robert Reich writing in The Christian Science Monitor, who has
been a trustee of both funds, explores fostering more immigration as a method of
helping to boost these funds again. What is a sustainable policy for the US?
Expect more debates on this emerging topic.
Advocates:
At Least One Assisted Suicide in Montana (April 9, 2010)
Since a
Montana court ruled that assisted suicide wasn't illegal, doctors have helped at
least one patient commit suicide. Will the state attorneys prosecute doctors who
aided in the assisted suicide. The law remains unclear. Greg Jackson, a criminal
defense attorney, says, "Frankly, it is a case-by-case determination and it is
very fact specific to the case that would be before the court...Ultimately it
falls on the desk of prosecutors to look at the facts of the case and determine
if they think an individual should be prosecuted."
HIV,
AIDS Cases Rise Sharply for NJ Senior Citizens in Recent Years (March 31,
2010)
Older people are living longer and more vibrant lives. This
older generation never dreamed it would be vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, yet with
continued sexual activity into their old age, HIV/AIDS is becoming a large
concern. In New Jersey, HIV/AIDS cases among the older population are
increasing, with a 17.5 percent increase from 2007 to 2008.
Researchers
Design Self-Test For Memory Disorders (March 2010)
Researchers have
developed a new self-administered memory tool to help identify individuals with
mild thinking and memory impairments at an early stage. Called the
Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination (SAGE), research shows that four out
of five people (80 percent) with mild thinking and memory (cognitive) issues
will be detected by this test, and 95% of people who are normal thinking will
have normal SAGE scores.
WORLD
China:
A 101-Year-Old Woman Grew a Horn (March 10, 2010)
(Article in
Russian)
Last year, a horn began to grow on the forehead of a
100-year-old Chinese woman named Chan Rufang. According to her, it all began
with a small pimple, to which she paid no attention. But in the past 12 months
that "pimple" grew to 6 cm. According to recent updates, a second pimple began
to grow on Chan Rufang's forehead--parallel to the first one.
ELDER
RIGHTS
UNITED
STATES
Silver
Stylist: the Man Who Blogs about the Over Sixties (April 8,
2010)
Ari Seth Cohen poses a question: 'Why do we only look towards
younger people as our fashion icons? Why not look to the people who really know
what they're doing?' To this New York City-based 28-year-old, the style-setters
truly worthy of our awe are often aged upwards of 60, 70, 80, even 90. In August
2008 Cohen began his blog, Advanced Style, which used the template of the
Sartorialist and Facehunter - websites that consist of street shots of the
impeccably hip - to celebrate the most strikingly dressed senior citizens in his
adopted city.
For
Elderly, Wired World Holds Terror - or Delight (April 6, 2010)
In
this fast-paced society many older persons find it difficult to keep up. For
many, the majority of their lives were not complicated by the use of the
Internet and such things as Twitter or Facebook. Life was simpler and people
communicated the 'old-fashioned way.' However, with the face of technology
changing every day, many seniors are embracing this new culture and admiring the
benefits it can bring. Though some may be hesitant and even afraid, many flock
to computer classes, eager to move forward with society.
Long
Goodbye of the Elderly Can Create Crises for Family Caregivers (April 6,
2010)
As the population of older persons continues to increase, the
caregiver crisis has emerged. Caregivers themselves make up part of this aging
population. It is important to recognize these issues when discussing
end-of-life care. Rather than choosing a designated caregiver, families must
discuss the potential of there being several who are willing to provide care for
the older person. In doing so, the balance of responsibility is restored and the
caregiver, family, and older person can enjoy the longevity of
life.
WORLD
Argentina:
Sexuality Courses Offered to Grandparents (April 8,
2010)
(Article in Spanish)
The Argentine government is
sponsoring courses on sexuality and older persons. These courses provide
education on maintaining a healthy diet and other helpful tips for not losing
sexual desire in old age. According to the author, older people reap tremendous
health benefits if they can maintain a healthy sex life for both body and
spirit.
United
Kingdom: Mother and Daughter Try to Smuggle Corpse on Plane (April 7,
2010)
(Article also available in Arabic)
Tucked
up in his wheelchair and wearing a large pair of sunglasses, the older traveler
might have looked like he was simply catching a nap as he waited for his flight.
But something didn't seem quite right. As his family tried to check in, airport
staff became suspicious. To their horror they discovered that the 91-year-old
was dead.
France:
Seniors and Cash (April 7, 2010)
(Article in
French)
According to a recent survey, people over 65 years tend to retain
more cash than young people. They generally carry around 59 euros (around 80
dollars) in cash, whereas people under 30 usually have less than 20 euros (about
26 dollars). Moreover, more than half of people over 65 keep cash at home and
generally don't hide it. They withdraw money several times a month and try to
find a secure place for safekeeping. However, they put it inside an office area
that offers minimal security.
Russia:
A Director of a Retirement Home in Yakutsk Has Cruelly Mistreated the Elderly
Residents (April 6, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
The director
of a retirement home in Yakutsk will have to appear in court. Apparently he
behaved outrageously toward older residents in the home. He was accused of
unlawfully depriving the freedom of older and disabled residents.
Canada
: Elderly Pedestrians More At Risk (April 6, 2010)
(Article in
French)
In 2009 in Montreal, two pedestrians, victims of a fatal
accident, were over 55 years old. The assumption is that older pedestrians are
involved in accidents because they often walk more slowly than young people and
have poorer sight and hearing. Consequently, the Montreal Police Service decided
to focus its prevention campaigns on older people to increase motorist awareness
about their particular needs and physical shortcomings. The number of
pedestrians killed in Montreal is currently decreasing thanks to speed reduction
and an increase in the number of policemen regulating traffic.
Japan:
Japan's 'Lonely Deaths': A Business Opportunity (April 6,
2010)
Taichi Yoshida, owner of a small moving business, has noticed a
significant trend over the years. An alarming number of those that use his
services are the family members of those that have died as 'lonely deaths.'
Kodokushi, as this phenomenon is referred to in Japanese, is becoming
increasingly common among Japan's aging population. In 2008 in Tokyo, more than
2,200 people over 65 died lonely deaths, according to statistics from the city's
Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health. With a lack of space in nursing
homes, many of Japan's elderly live alone and receive no care from family
members.
Europe:
How Old Is Elderly? (March 29, 2010)
(Article in
French)
According to a recent survey of 21 countries led by the European
Social Survey, people's perceptions of older persons and youth are different,
depending on their country of origin. For instance, English people consider
themselves old at age 58, whereas Cypriots think they are old at 67. If a
cleavage exists in people's representation of older persons between northern and
southern Europe, young and older persons also have different points of view
concerning the time in which people become
China:
Guangxi Area Seniors Protest Poor Roads (March 28, 2010)
(Article
in Chinese)
Because residents were eager for new roads to be built, they
pretended to go out carrying water and knelt down to arouse the attention of
government authorities. According to local officials, the plan was to build the
road in 2006 with government subsidies. Because of a disagreement about
connecting Nongwen Village, construction stopped after one mile. Without roads,
it is hard for stay-at-home seniors and kids to connect to the outside world.
Russia:
Grandmother Online (March 24, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
An
information form called "Senior" was given out to the people of St. Petersburg.
Considering that every fourth person in St. Petersburg is an older person, the
form had to capture the precise interests of older persons. The survey showed It
a big demand for computer literacy courses. Because of this, the government
created a program was called "Grandmother Online." Unfortunately, the great
popularity of this program has created a long list of older persons who are
waiting to get started on the computer.
GAA BLOG
What
is Our Neighborhood Magazine For? By Aukje de Vries (April 12,
2010)
This week, Aukje de Vries writes about her neighborhood
association and its magazine. In her opinion, this magazine is not informative
enough and should be improved. Therefore, she attended a meeting about the
magazine and took the floor as a speaker to share her opinion. Do you have a
magazine or an association in your neighborhood and are you involved in it?
Share your comments with us at GAA!
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