For 30 years, October 1 has been the international day of the elderly. This year, in addition, has been inaugurated the decade of healthy ageing. A period in which the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with international entities such as the UN, will promote initiatives at different levels to improve the quality of life of the elderly. One of the objectives of the decade is to achieve lifelong learning, an area in which the NoRumourHealth project is working with particular emphasis.

Contrary to popular belief, there is little evidence to indicate that older people are in better health today than previous generations [1]. At the same time, demographic data suggest that by 2030 the number of people over the age of 60 will have increased by 34%, from 1 billion in 2019 to 1.4 billion in 2030 [2]. Therefore, betting on healthy aging must be a priority in all countries.

The WHO proposal for healthy ageing goes beyond considering health more than the absence of disease: “This will require a shift in focus from considering healthy ageing as the absence of disease to fostering the functional ability that enables older people to be and to do what they value”

“This will require a shift in focus from considering healthy ageing as the absence of disease to fostering the functional ability that enables older people to be and to do what they value”

One of the objectives of the decade – and perhaps the most relevant for the No Rumor Health project – is to achieve quality education throughout life. In other words, the WHO confirms that healthy ageing requires lifelong learning, which includes digital literacy for older people. Offering older people the appropriate strategies that allow them to differentiate information from hoaxes – especially in the health area – is essential so that they can participate without obstacles in the digital field.

Through the development of training modules aimed at older people and the application that will help differentiate health news from hoaxes and rumours, No Rumor Health aims to contribute to the training of older people.

In short, as the WHO states, good health adds life to years.

[1] Informe mundial sobre el envejecimiento y la salud. Ginebra, Organización Mundial de la Salud, 2015 (https://www.who.int/ageing/events/world-report-2015-launch/en/)

[2] Plan for a Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020-2030 https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/decade-of-healthy-ageing/final-decade-proposal/decade-proposal-final-apr2020-en.pdf?sfvrsn=b4b75ebc_5