The issue of aging does not have a specific responsible person and a dynamic and flexible structure must be created for institutions to actively engage in long-term, medium-term, and short-term programs to promote respect and dignity for the elderly and cultural development in this field. These are the words of Dr. Hesamoddin Alameh, the head of the National Council for the Elderly in the country. He also speaks about the distinction between individual aging and population aging, stating that “an increase in the number of elderly people is desirable, but an increase in the percentage of elderly people is undesirable.”

This issue of the monthly magazine “Khat-e-Solh” focuses on aging and has approached Dr. Alameh for his thoughts. Hesamoddin Alameh has previously served as the Director General of Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Health and has a history of student activism as the Secretary of the Islamic Association of Tehran University and Medical Sciences.

In this interview, the head

Considering the decrease in population growth rate in Iran, it is expected that the proportion of elderly population in the country will increase. Is there a specific definition for “elderly” and is there a specific legal definition for elderly in the laws?

Definition of old age according to the current criteria of the World Health Organization is sixty years old. However, this definition is a contractual and relative one that can vary flexibly in different countries. For example, in African countries where life expectancy is generally lower, the age of fifty-five is considered old age, while in developed countries, the average age of sixty-five is considered old age. In Japan, there is data that their researchers have recommended the age of seventy to be considered old age due to their increased efficiency, trust in the elderly community, and their effectiveness in business and economy. This is because this definition and considering the age of seventy helps with years of work, production, and being active in the economic field. Therefore, this is a contractual matter. In our country, the age of sixty is usually the criterion. However, there are institutions in the country that consider the age of sixty-five as the criterion. However, the Secretariat of the National Council on Aging has set the age

According to the definition you mentioned, how much has been reported or estimated in terms of the elderly population in Iran?

Some of our data are baseline data. You can have national statistics on a daily basis. Various organizations such as registration offices and statistical centers are active. According to statistics, there are approximately eight million and four hundred thousand elderly people in the country.

Contrary to many misconceptions that consider the elderly as a burden to society, experts see them as a “social asset.” What is your opinion on this matter?

I must explain that we have individual aging and population aging. In the issue of individual aging, the increase in the number of elderly people is considered without considering their weight, compared to other age groups. In other words, the percentage of elderly people compared to other age groups is taken into consideration. The issue of individual aging is a very blessed matter. It means that the more hope for life increases, the more elderly people who have reached this stage of life, and in fact, the more individual aging increases, it is a blessed matter for a society. This is the result of the progress of human knowledge, especially in the field of health and lifestyle, and the progress of well-being and the promotion of elderly self-care, and is considered as a product of development and well-being. What is sometimes referred to as a crisis or causes fear for policymakers is the issue of population aging in a country.

In the issue of population aging, we are dealing with the percentage and weight of the elderly group

How do you evaluate the status of housing and social respect for the elderly in Iran? Is there proper cultural education or support laws such as facilities for care, criminalization of elder abuse, facilitation of their administrative affairs, medical insurance, etc. in this regard?

We have good facilities in the country in terms of basic health. All individuals are at least covered by free health insurance for hospital services. However, good services are provided to the elderly in government hospitals. In other areas, such as municipalities, we also have neighborhood centers and senior citizen cards. Of course, we have had ups and downs in different historical periods in different provinces. But positive steps have been taken and can be taken to honor the elderly in a practical and practical way. In the field of elderly care, the Welfare Organization is responsible for vulnerable and low-income elderly people. About seven hundred thousand elderly people are covered by elderly care centers in some way. We also have the elderly under our coverage in the Relief Committee. Pension funds, such as the Omid Pension Fund, which is a national pension fund, provide services. The Welfare Organization also provides services to the elderly.
Daily elderly care centers provide services in the Welfare Organization, all of which are aimed at increasing the participation and empowerment

There are two issues being discussed here. One is the issue of elderly homes and facilities where the elderly can spend their final years, which should meet certain standards. The other issue is public and urban spaces. To what extent have these spaces been adapted for the elderly, and how successful have we been in Iran in this regard?

Regarding the first topic of 24-hour and daily elderly care centers under the coverage of the Rehabilitation Deputy of the Welfare Organization. Since we do not have access to the executive field. The information I have about their performance is that in recent years, good planning has been done to standardize centers, improve the quality of life for elderly residents in welfare centers, transparency of financial contracts, and improve the quality of life for the elderly in residential centers. But I do not have the details and up-to-date statistics. The reality is that a very small number of our elderly are cared for in day and night care centers. But still, the situation is satisfactory. You can see this practically. Compare the statistics of coronavirus patients and deaths in elderly care centers of the Welfare Organization in Iran with those of advanced and Western countries. But again, you can get the details and up-to-date statistics from Dr. Nafari, the Deputy of Rehabilitation of the Welfare Organization.

But regarding the second topic and the appropriate

If you have any points at the end that you feel need to be mentioned, please do so.

I emphasize that we do not have a hierarchical and fixed structure for centralized management of aging. This secretariat is developing the first institutional mapping of aging, which is actually the roadmap and comprehensive plan for aging in the country. It wants to identify and access the statistics of the elderly sector with the help of all agencies, legal cases, services, issues, challenges and fundamental solutions, in order to understand where we have gaps. Whether it is in the legal sector or in the planning sector. In the institutional and structural sector or in the budget sector. In standards and indicators or in other areas. So that we can manage this sector. This requires more attention from the Organization for Planning and Budget and the programs under the National Aging Document, so that we can provide the infrastructure for this twenty-year window of opportunity until the aging pyramid, which is currently in middle age, reaches old age, and the country can serve the elderly community with the utmost dignity without any problems.

Thank you for the time you have given to the peace process.