Every four years, the World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics represents a unique and irreplaceable event attended by experts from around the world to discuss the latest findings in the field of ageing. The 19th congress, which is taking place in Paris in 2009, is particularly important, as it coincides with an ideological u-tum.
ILC Global Alliance will hold a symposium on Jul. 6 from 10:30 to 12:00, titled `Aging, A Considerable Achievement for Humanity - The ILC Perspective'

Demographic developments and intergenerational relationships are key topics for the coming decades. To that end, the World Demographic Association (WDA) has created an international, interdisciplinary and permanent platform for ageing and generational issues – a forum designed to facilitate the analysis, discussion and exchange of ideas in this important field.

In 2009, Brussels will be hosting the 19th Alzheimer Europe conference and people with dementia and their carers will be at the centre of our debates for two days filled with exchanges of experiences on how to overcome existing problems, as well as existing solutions.
(Program：http://www.alzheimer2009.eu/en/programme.html)

The 11th Congress scientific programme reflects both continuity and the need to respond to the ever-changing dynamic which is 21 st century palliative care practice. It will be structured in the same way as previous congresses to include Meet the Expert sessions, Plenary Speakers, Symposia and Free Communication sessions as well as Poster Presentations.
In addition to invited speakers from all over the world, as always, the programme for the next congress is firmly based on submitted abstracts of the highest scientific quality. From these submitted abstracts, nearly 100 speakers will be selected to present their work and so demonstrate through research and practice, a dynamic response to the needs of our palliative care patients and families.
（Program: http://www.eapcnet.org/Vienna2009/download/EAPC_vp_2009_Internet.pdf）

The basic idea of the conference is to offer a comprehensive outlook on the social fabric of the Mediterranean world in several detailed aspects to be presented and discussed with the participants; to allow the identification of certain areas of ongoing research for all participants and to allow participants the presentation of results of their own research and the critical debate of these results.
（Program: http://aimw09.org/programme.pdf）

In Japan, where the number of people with dementia is estimated to reach 3.76 million in 2035, 2.2 times of 1.7 million in 2005, dementia is no longer a "somebody else's business" but a big challenge for the whole nation.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, together with organizations concerned with dementia, launched a 10-year program in 2005, the Campaign to Understand Dementia and Build Community Networks, aiming to develop a nationwide public campaign. They suggest that society should not leave the care of people with dementia to medical staff or welfare service providers; it is crucial that wide-ranging residents have a proper understanding of dementia, and can support people with this condition in the community in which they live.
The results have been reported publicly through the development of activities as follows:

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National Health and Recreation Festival for the Aged (known as "Nenlympic"), 2008
(October 25 to 28, 2008, Japan)

The Foundation of Social Development for Senior Citizens, a public corporation in Japan, is going to sponsor the 21st annual Nenlympics, an annual health and recreation festival for the aged in October 2008.  The ILC Japan is affiliated with the Foundation. The "Nenlympics,” is a nation-wide festival of sports, culture and health for the entrants aged 60 and over. About 500 thousands people are expected to take part in the  four-day event which includes 25 kinds of activities such as opinion exchange meetings, symposium, music festivals, and sport and game events such as ground-golf, marathon, swimming, soft volleyball, Shogi(Japanese chess). Since the cumulative experience of older people is likened to annual ring of trees (Nenrin) in Japan, the words Nenrin and the Olympics are combined unto the word,Nenlympics.”