A/HRC/30/43 8. Right to health 68. In care settings, autonomy means that older persons are able to participate in the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of their care services, as well as in clinical trials in order to determine the effect of medication. 13 Older persons should no longer be seen as passive recipients of care but as active users. 14 This change of paradigm from passive to active care is a shift from care provided for people to care provided with people.15 69. Older persons should receive health education, and information on the social and health-care services available to them, on their rights in care settings. They should also receive guidance on adequate nutrition and on different pathologies, including communicable and non-communicable diseases. In this context, self-care can help older persons to participate actively in and manage their own health. C. Care 1. Definition and scope 70. There is no universally accepted definition of care.16 Care aims at maintaining or regaining the optimum level of physical, mental and emotional wellbeing and to prevent or delay the onset of disease. While a distinction is generally made between social and health care, depending on where and by whom such services are provided, care should be understood in a complementary and integrated manner for the benefit of older persons. It comprises a range of services, facilities, knowledge and support aimed at increasing the individual’s physical, mental and social well-being, provided either by formal or informal carers, and through the public or the private sector. 71. Care encompasses services such as assistance with the activities of daily life, social income, protection and security, as well as health promotion and disease prevention, treatment and rehabilitation and the provision of primary, secondary and tertiary health care, in ambulatory, institutional or home settings. Equality of access to social and health care throughout the life of older persons is also the basis of an autonomous life and active and healthy ageing. 2. Care settings 72. Home and family care is the most common form of care for older persons in many countries, where care of older persons is regarded very much seen as the responsibility of the family. While for many older persons, family care is the preferred option in old age, there is a need for adequate parallel support to family members and other informal caregivers. This would include respite care services, needs assessment, counselling and advice, self-support groups and practical training in care-giving, as well as information about measures to protect carers’ own physical and mental health, weekend breaks, and integrated planning of care for older persons and families. Including family carers into the social security system is particularly important given that caregivers are often women who are not gainfully employed and in view of the increasing need for care in ageing societies. 13 See A/HRC/18/37, para. 16. 14 Economic Commission for Europe policy brief on ageing No. 15, “Innovative and empowering strategies for care” (2015), p. 5. Ibid. World Health Organization glossary of terms for community health care and services for older persons (2004). The glossary (www.who.int/kobe_centre/ageing/ahp_vol5_glossary.pdf) could provide guidance on the scope of “social care”, “health care”, “acute health care”, “ambulatory care”, “long-term care”, “home care or domiciliary care”, “adult care homes”, “day care centres”, “hospice care”, “palliative care”, “residential care” and “formal and informal caregivers”. 15 16 13