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Age does not diminish the sanctity of one’s rights. One’s rights include, at a minimum, the following
items:
- Independence,
- Participation,
- Care,
- Self-fulfillment, and
- Dignity.
| Independence includes: |
- Residing at home for as long as possible under the conditions which are an acceptable risk to the older person.
- Living in environments that are safe and adaptable to personal preferences and changing capacities.
- Driving a properly licensed vehicle.
- Access to adequate food, water, shelter, clothing, and health care.
- The opportunity to work or to have access to other income generating opportunities.
- Participating in determining when and at what pace withdrawal from the labor force takes place.
- Access to appropriate educational and training programs.
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| Participation includes: |
- Remaining integrated in society, participating actively in the formulation and implementation of policies that
directly affect their well-being and sharing their knowledge and skills with
younger generations.
- Voting during public elections.
- Seeking and developing opportunities for
service to the community and providing service as volunteers in positions
appropriate to their interest and capacities.
- Forming movements or associations of older persons.
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| Care includes: |
- Benefiting from family and community care and protection.
- Access to health care to help maintain or regain the optimum level of physical,
mental and emotional well-being and to prevent or delay the onset of illness.
- Access to social and legal services to enhance autonomy, protection and care.
- Utilizing appropriate levels of institutional care providing protection, rehabilitation and social and mental
stimulation in a humane and secure environment.
- Enjoying human rights and fundamental freedom when residing in any shelter, care or treatment facility, including
full respect for their dignity, beliefs, needs and privacy and for the right
to make decisions about their care and the quality of their lives.
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| Self-Fulfillment includes: |
- Pursuing opportunities for the full development of their potential.
- Access to the educational, cultural, spiritual and recreational resources of society.
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| Dignity includes: |
- Living in dignity and security and being free of exploitation and physical or mental abuse.
- Being treated fairly regardless of age, gender, racial or ethnic background, disability or
other status, and be valued independently of economic contribution.
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Source: adapted from the United Nations International Year of Older Persons 1999.
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