THE CANADIAN PRESS

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MONTREAL - The aging population has a contribution to make to society and efforts are needed to ensure they are not left out, Irene Hoskins, president of the International Federation on Aging, said at a conference Sunday.

"There are measures that can be taken by governments, by civil society, by individuals, to ensure that people remain in good health and that they experience what we call active aging," she said during the closing of the Ninth Global Conference on Aging in Montreal.

She added that policy-makers need to think in terms of building a society for all ages.

"(We need to ) explore to what extent aging and design will help older people to lead safe lives, and secure lives, lives in which they can participate in society and which would allow them to remain healthy," she said.

Over 1,000 people participated in the four-day event that touched on themes of security, design, transport, access to housing, social isolation, the rights of the elderly and the promotion of a positive image of aging.

Conference co-president Claude Beland said it was important to promote the idea that people over 65 could still be productive members of society.

"An old apple tree doesn't produce old apples," he said. "It's the same with elderly people. They can be involved in companies and use their experience in the labour market to the benefit of other employees"

The next Global Conference on Aging will take place in Melbourne in 2010.