Our common perception of the elderly as a vulnerable group in need of assistance with nothing to offer the rest of us marginalizes a large and fast-growing part of the world’s population. Besides its obvious humanitarian failings, this perception is not sustainable financially. Failing to draw on the resources of older people and treating them solely as a group to be cared for could bankrupt economies around the world. We need to encourage civic engagement by elders in order to create inclusive communities. Not only will this allow people to age without sacrificing a sense of purpose and meaning, but it will also increase the resilience of local communities, helping them withstand the impacts caused both by the global aging phenomenon and by natural and man-made disasters.

The worldwide aging trend is heightening three global challenges: economic burden, risk and resiliency, and social isolation. Ibasho offers low-cost, self-sustaining solutions that address these challenges by empowering elders as change agents to create more inclusive and resilient communities.

1.Economic Burden

Problem

Institutional care may become financially unfeasible because it is expensive and there is a shortage of caregivers. In middle- to lower-income countries, there are limited formal care systems (Custodio et al, 2014). At the household level, providing informal care reduces the earning power of the primary caregivers, who are predominantly women, contributing to gender inequality and financial hardship (UN, 2017).

Solution

Through Ibasho’s social venture model, elders can subsidize their household incomes through the work they do. The government provides minimal subsidies for the operation because elders are contributors and tax-paying earners.

2.Risk and Resiliency

Problem

Disaster response and recovery disproportionately affects seniors. Approximately 65% of the people who die from disasters are over 60 years old, in part because they are more likely to have infirmities that hinder or slow evacuation, to live in poverty, or to be isolated (Cabinet office of Japan, 2013). When rebuilding, seniors often can’t access loans or aid and are not allowed or encouraged to help rebuild (Helpage International, 2014).

Solution

The community hub doubles as an evacuation center. It holds disaster preparation trainings, which include elder-led disaster risk management sessions in which elders share their experiences and lessons learned from previous disasters. The community hub also strengthens social capital and resiliency: People connect at Ibasho, know each other’s first names, and have more friends.

3.Social Isolation

Problem

Social isolation and loneliness, which have been identified as health risk factors, affect approximately one-third of the elderly population in the United States (Perissinotto, 2012). The number of elder-headed households is projected to grow from one in four to one in three by 2035 in the United States (Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, 2018). As many other countries experience similar trends, this challenge will become a critical policy issue.

Solution

Ibasho empowers older people to create meaningful activities, a sense of purpose, and relationships with people other than professional caregivers. Having a meaningful role and feeling valued increases confidence levels and decreases depression and feelings of dependency.