Dr Kalache, a leading authority on ageing, said yesterday he believed his residency would develop opportunities for older South Australians to lead richer, fuller lives.
His vision includes better access to public transport, safer pedestrian crossings and more accessible buildings and parks.
He also believes in changing the attitude of authorities in dealing with the day-to-day problems faced by the older generation.
His first visit will be for four weeks. There will be another two four-week visits over the next 11 months.
“There are eight broad topics,” he said. “Including housing, transport, civic participation, accessibility to public buildings and parks, job opportunities.
“The big challenge in the 20th century was to add years to people’s lives. Now, our challenge is to make the years more meaningful.”
Dr Kalache said that after listening to the problems of people, the next step was more difficult – getting a response from the local authorities.
A native of Rio de Janeiro, Dr Kalache pioneered the concept of “active ageing” and was head of the Ageing and Life Course Program at the World Health Organisation from 1995 to 2007.
He now leads the International Centre for Policies on Ageing in Brazil and is special adviser for global ageing to the New York Academy of Medicine.
South Australia has the highest proportion of older people in the nation with one in six people over the age of 65.
The SA Health Department says that in the next 15 years, that population will nearly double and, as the baby boomer generation ages, the over-65s will further increase.
Premier of SA, Hon Mike Rann said the residency provided an opportunity to change people’s perceptions and attitudes to having an ageing society and to create a greater understanding of the positive contributions of older people to the State.