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BackEurope’s ageing population will have a profound social impact on the future. It is therefore important that all participating players will become aware of the challenges and opportunities that this entails. A well functioning public pension scheme and health insurance are important elements to achieve both active ageing and the integration of elderly people in society, observe the editors of the publication “How to promote ageing well in Europe”, which was launched in Brussels this Wednesday.
Currently, 150 million people are living in the EU, who belong to the 50+ generation. In only a few decades, half of all EU citizens will be older than 50. These demographic changes will have an enormous impact on society. It is therefore important that all players concerned consider the challenges but also the positive opportunities, which an aging population brings with it. The year 2012 has been designated as the European Year on Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity to deal with this subject in a public-oriented manner.
Becoming aware of challenges and opportunities
There are many areas in society, in which the special requirements and wishes of old people have to be addressed. Besides satisfactory security through a sustainably functioning pension system, care services and high quality health care, these also include areas such as barrier-free public transport, housing and cultural and leisure time facilities, which can promote “active” ageing.
At regional level there are already a number of successful EU projects for older people, which are among others financed by the European Social Fund and the Structural Funds. The publication “How to Promote Ageing Well in Europe” was issued by the Committee of the Regions and AGE - an umbrella organisation concerned with promoting the interests of retired and older people - and introduced this Wednesday during the course of the “Open Days for Cities and Regions” in Brussels. It introduces “best practice” examples for promoting and integrating the interests of older people and is aimed at supporting policy-makers at regional level, who in many cases do not have sufficient information as to how they could make use of financing provided by the EU funds and which projects are available for the same problem.
Changes also for the “young”
The aging population naturally also poses great challenges for the young generation; due to the changing pattern of demand they will, among others, be faced with substantial changes in the labour market. In the coming years, more services such as care and health care services will have to be provided for older persons; furthermore, the leisure and culture sector, as well as transport and financial services will see an increasing demand.
Public pension and health care is important
Lambert van Nistelrooij of the European People’s Party, who deals with the subject of demographic change within the inter-ageing working group in the European Parliament, emphasised during the presentation of the publication that it would also in future be of particular importance to guarantee the sustainable financing of the public social security systems, in order to protect older persons against poverty and ill health. In future, employees’ working life will be longer. The professional education of older employees and the availability of high-quality job is a must to cope with this. The Director of AGE, Ann-Sophie Parent, pointed out that the life expectancy within the EU would be high, that, however, there would be substantial regional differences and that, although people would live longer, they would not enjoy good health in old age. Good and affordable health care and preventative health care, said Parent, would be an essential requirement to enable older people to age actively and to be integrated into society.
Further information:
Website of AGE
Becoming aware of challenges and opportunities
There are many areas in society, in which the special requirements and wishes of old people have to be addressed. Besides satisfactory security through a sustainably functioning pension system, care services and high quality health care, these also include areas such as barrier-free public transport, housing and cultural and leisure time facilities, which can promote “active” ageing.
At regional level there are already a number of successful EU projects for older people, which are among others financed by the European Social Fund and the Structural Funds. The publication “How to Promote Ageing Well in Europe” was issued by the Committee of the Regions and AGE - an umbrella organisation concerned with promoting the interests of retired and older people - and introduced this Wednesday during the course of the “Open Days for Cities and Regions” in Brussels. It introduces “best practice” examples for promoting and integrating the interests of older people and is aimed at supporting policy-makers at regional level, who in many cases do not have sufficient information as to how they could make use of financing provided by the EU funds and which projects are available for the same problem.
Changes also for the “young”
The aging population naturally also poses great challenges for the young generation; due to the changing pattern of demand they will, among others, be faced with substantial changes in the labour market. In the coming years, more services such as care and health care services will have to be provided for older persons; furthermore, the leisure and culture sector, as well as transport and financial services will see an increasing demand.
Public pension and health care is important
Lambert van Nistelrooij of the European People’s Party, who deals with the subject of demographic change within the inter-ageing working group in the European Parliament, emphasised during the presentation of the publication that it would also in future be of particular importance to guarantee the sustainable financing of the public social security systems, in order to protect older persons against poverty and ill health. In future, employees’ working life will be longer. The professional education of older employees and the availability of high-quality job is a must to cope with this. The Director of AGE, Ann-Sophie Parent, pointed out that the life expectancy within the EU would be high, that, however, there would be substantial regional differences and that, although people would live longer, they would not enjoy good health in old age. Good and affordable health care and preventative health care, said Parent, would be an essential requirement to enable older people to age actively and to be integrated into society.
Further information:
Website of AGE