Just recently, I received an e-mail from a long lost friend that I have not heard for almost 1O years. She asked me how Macrine and I are doing and enclosed a picture of our Medical Mission in Boac, Marinduque,Philippines in 2008. The picture triggered memories of our younger years and our humanitarian efforts helping our poor countrymen at that time.
https://hubpages.com/politics/medical-mission-of-love-to-marinduque
I will be 85 years old by the end of this year. Macrine is 83 years old and suffering from the scourges of Parkinson Disease** and other ills and pains associated with aging. Our friend's e-mail reminded me that besides the physical and mental problems associated with our aging, we also feel very isolated at times( especially Macrine), since our contact with previous friends, associates and relatives are not as frequent compared to when we were still young and active.
Somehow the picture of the Medical mission alleviated a little bit of our pains of aging as it triggered pleasant memories of our younger years. It also reminded me of my favorite quote: "You have only lived if you have touched the life of others"
The email from our long lost friend inspired me to search some facts about aging and health (published by WHO)* as follows:
Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22%. By 2020, the number of people aged 60 years and older will outnumber children younger than 5 years. In 2050, 80% of older people will be living in low- and middle-income countries.
The pace of population ageing is much faster than in the past. All countries face major challenges to ensure that their health and social systems are ready to make the most of this demographic shift.
*https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health
**https://www.myparkinsonsteam.com/resources/parkinsons-and-the-burden-of-caregiving
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