“Golden Age”: Human Rights Supporting

The aging population worldwide is accompanied by a dramatic increase in dementia and depression rates. People with dementia and depression are often deprived of their human rights, with health and mortality consequences and abuse as the most serious violation. Dementia and depression are serious problems for the aging population in our country, as ensuring good health and a good quality of life are fundamental rights.

In Greece, the percentage of people 65+ amounts to 21.3%. In this age group, people with dementia reach 5-8% with an increasing tendency and monopolar depression accounts for 7%, being a precursor point of dementia and an additional burden on quality of life. Women and the elderly are among the highest risk groups.

Promoting the rights of people with dementia and depression in old age presupposes the development of a strong relationship between those affected, those at the local level and those responsible for policy-making. Civil society organizations have an important role to play in mediating between target groups, enhancing the functionality of the social fabric in defending the rights of the target group. Appropriate strategies include informing and developing skills in key human rights advocates in practice and raising awareness / awareness of relevant meta-species, signs and factors of abuse and issues of age racism.