Active aging in the EU: problems, priorities and solutions
Copenhagen
The European Commission published an extensive survey on active ageing to understand citizens' views and attitudes towards older people. The survey also covers the contribution of older people to economy and society at large. It shows the optimal ways to promote the active role of older people for the benefit of all. The survey could be a good guiding point for the Baltic States’ health policies.
 |
|---|
2012 has been chosen by the Commission as the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. Our magazine has already informed the readers about it. However, The EU established a whole program for this enormously important and vital problem devoting about € 5 mln for implementation.
The EU’s aging program is aimed at the following tasks:
- Active ageing in employment. Encouraging older workers to stay in employment requires notably the improvement of working conditions and their adaptation to the health status and needs of older workers, updating their skills by providing better access to lifelong learning and the review of tax and benefit systems to ensure that there are effective incentives for working longer.
- Participation in society. Improving the opportunities and conditions for older people to contribute to society as volunteers or family carers and to participate in society, thus avoiding social isolation and many of the associated problems and risks.
- Independent living. Health promotion and preventive health care through measures that maximise healthy life years and prevent dependency as well as making the environment (public buildings, infrastructure, transport, buildings) more age-friendly allowing older people to stay as independent as possible.
The European Year 2012 covers all the three dimensions of active ageing.
The EU’s aging program is aimed at the following tasks:
- Active ageing in employment. Encouraging older workers to stay in employment requires notably the improvement of working conditions and their adaptation to the health status and needs of older workers, updating their skills by providing better access to lifelong learning and the review of tax and benefit systems to ensure that there are effective incentives for working longer.
- Participation in society. Improving the opportunities and conditions for older people to contribute to society as volunteers or family carers and to participate in society, thus avoiding social isolation and many of the associated problems and risks.
- Independent living. Health promotion and preventive health care through measures that maximise healthy life years and prevent dependency as well as making the environment (public buildings, infrastructure, transport, buildings) more age-friendly allowing older people to stay as independent as possible.
The European Year 2012 covers all the three dimensions of active ageing.
“Important aging”
Life expectancy in the EU since 1960 has climbed by eight years and demographic projections foresee a further five-year increase over the next four or five decades. People are living longer and, together with low birth rates, Europe's population is ageing fast; the same picture is all over the world, except in the poorest countries.
Population ageing presents a number of challenges for welfare systems and public finances. The EU’s member states spend, on average, more than a quarter of their GDP on social protection. Most of this goes on older people in the form of pensions, health and long-term care. The current economic crisis has left member states with large public deficits and public debt burden just at a time when the post-war baby-boomers are entering their sixties and starting to retire.
The key issue for most EU states presently is how to secure good social protection in an increasingly challenging economic and demographic context.
Active ageing is not just about the participation of older workers in the labour market, it is also about older workers actively contributing to society through voluntary work. The issue is also a central part of the EU-2020 strategy with its efforts to reach the 75% employment target and to reduce the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by at least 20 million by 2020.
Population ageing presents a number of challenges for welfare systems and public finances. The EU’s member states spend, on average, more than a quarter of their GDP on social protection. Most of this goes on older people in the form of pensions, health and long-term care. The current economic crisis has left member states with large public deficits and public debt burden just at a time when the post-war baby-boomers are entering their sixties and starting to retire.
The key issue for most EU states presently is how to secure good social protection in an increasingly challenging economic and demographic context.
Active ageing is not just about the participation of older workers in the labour market, it is also about older workers actively contributing to society through voluntary work. The issue is also a central part of the EU-2020 strategy with its efforts to reach the 75% employment target and to reduce the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by at least 20 million by 2020.
Active ageing statistics
The EU Eurostat accounting body – Eurobarometer – prepared a special Eurobarometer Survey-378 on “Active Ageing” (See: Report and Factsheets).
The majority of Europeans (71%) are aware that the population is getting older, but this is a concern for only 42 %. Definitions of 'old' and 'young' differ across countries. On average, Europeans believe that people start being considered as old just before 64 years and are no longer considered young from the age of 41,8 years.
Most Europeans consider that older people play a major role in society and especially within their families (82%), in politics (71%), in the local community (70%), or in the economy (67%).
Only one in three Europeans believes that the official retirement age will have to increase by 2030.
61% of Europeans support the idea that people should be allowed to continue working once they have reached the official retirement age, and 53% reject the idea of a compulsory retirement age.
According to Eurostat, the average exit age from the labour market is 61,5 years. However, 42% of Europeans believe that they would be capable of carrying out their current work till the age of 65 or beyond, whilst an additional 28% think they are able to continue their current work until the age of 60-64. One third of Europeans state that they would like to continue working after they reach the age when they are entitled to a pension. Part-time work combined with a partial pension would be more appealing than full retirement, to two thirds of Europeans.
27% of Europeans aged 55 and over engage in activities and voluntary work in a variety of organisations and devote on average 14 hours per month to such activities.
36% of Europeans aged 55 and over have, over the past 12 months, provided support informally to other people outside their household. 15% are currently taking care of an older family member, and another 42% have done so in the past.
The majority of Europeans believe that their country and local area are 'age-friendly'.
In tackling the challenges of ageing populations, most respondents believe older people's organisations and other NGOs, as well as religious organisations and churches, play the most important role.
The majority of Europeans (71%) are aware that the population is getting older, but this is a concern for only 42 %. Definitions of 'old' and 'young' differ across countries. On average, Europeans believe that people start being considered as old just before 64 years and are no longer considered young from the age of 41,8 years.
Most Europeans consider that older people play a major role in society and especially within their families (82%), in politics (71%), in the local community (70%), or in the economy (67%).
Only one in three Europeans believes that the official retirement age will have to increase by 2030.
61% of Europeans support the idea that people should be allowed to continue working once they have reached the official retirement age, and 53% reject the idea of a compulsory retirement age.
According to Eurostat, the average exit age from the labour market is 61,5 years. However, 42% of Europeans believe that they would be capable of carrying out their current work till the age of 65 or beyond, whilst an additional 28% think they are able to continue their current work until the age of 60-64. One third of Europeans state that they would like to continue working after they reach the age when they are entitled to a pension. Part-time work combined with a partial pension would be more appealing than full retirement, to two thirds of Europeans.
27% of Europeans aged 55 and over engage in activities and voluntary work in a variety of organisations and devote on average 14 hours per month to such activities.
36% of Europeans aged 55 and over have, over the past 12 months, provided support informally to other people outside their household. 15% are currently taking care of an older family member, and another 42% have done so in the past.
The majority of Europeans believe that their country and local area are 'age-friendly'.
In tackling the challenges of ageing populations, most respondents believe older people's organisations and other NGOs, as well as religious organisations and churches, play the most important role.
“Limits” of aging
The survey shows that 63,9 is the average age at which one starts being regarded as old, but there is a difference of more than 10 years between countries – 70,4 years in the Netherlands and 57,7 years in Slovakia. Perceptions of old age also vary according to the age of the respondents.
As the age of an individual increases, so does his/her views about when old age begins; 15-24 year olds believe that old age begins at the age of 59,1, while over 55s consider that old age begins at the age of 67,1. Women feel old age begins slightly later than men (65 years versus 62,7 years). Across the EU, citizens believe that a person is no longer regarded as being 'young' at the age of 41,8 years.
As the age of an individual increases, so does his/her views about when old age begins; 15-24 year olds believe that old age begins at the age of 59,1, while over 55s consider that old age begins at the age of 67,1. Women feel old age begins slightly later than men (65 years versus 62,7 years). Across the EU, citizens believe that a person is no longer regarded as being 'young' at the age of 41,8 years.
Citizens’ concern
According to the survey, 71% of Europeans believe that, over the next 20 years, the proportion of people aged 65 and over in their country will increase. Over 80% of citizens in the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, France and Finland expect that the population is ageing (eight out of ten respondents) whereas, citizens in Romania and Bulgaria only think that the proportion of those ageing is 30% and 38% respectively.
Worryingly, only 42% are concerned by this trend. Citizens in Portugal, Greece and Bulgaria seem to feel more concerned than other Europeans, whereas people in the Netherlands and Sweden seem to be least concerned, with only 28% and 19% feeling concerned. 40% of Europeans in the old member states (EU-15) seem to be concerned in contrast to 49% in the new member states (EU-12).
Worryingly, only 42% are concerned by this trend. Citizens in Portugal, Greece and Bulgaria seem to feel more concerned than other Europeans, whereas people in the Netherlands and Sweden seem to be least concerned, with only 28% and 19% feeling concerned. 40% of Europeans in the old member states (EU-15) seem to be concerned in contrast to 49% in the new member states (EU-12).
Increase in retirement age
Overall, six out of ten Europeans reject the idea that the retirement age needs to increase by 2030. This is higher among men, the 55s and over and the well-educated.
The vast majority of respondents in Romania (87%), Latvia (86%), Slovakia (83%) and Croatia (81%) disagree that the retirement age will need to increase in the future.
By contrast, respondents in Denmark (58%), the Netherlands (55%), Ireland (53%), the UK (51%) and Austria (49%) recognise the need for the official retirement age to rise.
The vast majority of respondents in Romania (87%), Latvia (86%), Slovakia (83%) and Croatia (81%) disagree that the retirement age will need to increase in the future.
By contrast, respondents in Denmark (58%), the Netherlands (55%), Ireland (53%), the UK (51%) and Austria (49%) recognise the need for the official retirement age to rise.
Working beyond retirement age
Almost two thirds of Europeans believe they should be allowed to continue working beyond the official retirement age. There are variations across Member States. At one extreme, nine out of ten respondents in Denmark and the Netherlands believe that they should be able to do so, while only three out of ten respondents believe so in Greece, Romania, Italy and Slovenia.
One third of Europeans currently in work say that they would like to continue working after they become entitled to a pension. This proportion ranges from over half of the respondents in Denmark, the UK, Estonia and Latvia to just over 20% in Spain and Italy and 16% in Slovenia. Moreover, the older they get, the more people are likely to want continue working longer: 41% of people aged 55 and over tend to be keener on working beyond the age at which they are entitled to a pension, in contrast to younger respondents (ranging between 30% to 33%).
One third of Europeans currently in work say that they would like to continue working after they become entitled to a pension. This proportion ranges from over half of the respondents in Denmark, the UK, Estonia and Latvia to just over 20% in Spain and Italy and 16% in Slovenia. Moreover, the older they get, the more people are likely to want continue working longer: 41% of people aged 55 and over tend to be keener on working beyond the age at which they are entitled to a pension, in contrast to younger respondents (ranging between 30% to 33%).
Encouragement to work after retirement
Working arrangements seem to encourage people to work longer, e.g. combining part time work and a partial pension is more appealing than full retirement to almost two thirds of Europeans. Many Europeans consider that the lack of gradual retirement options hinders longer careers. More Europeans (69%) in the 15 member states which joined the EU first (EU-15) find the idea of a combined part-time work and partial pension more appealing than full retirement – compared with 52% of those that joined the EU later (EU-12).
Governments’ policy towards elderly
Many Europeans believe that governments can do more to support carers, notably by helping them financially (44%), by offering the possibility of working flexible hours (38%), through carer's leave (35%) and by offering pension credits for care time (33%).
Remuneration of carers was most frequently mentioned in Slovakia (65%) and Sweden (61%). Flexible working hours was cited by over half of the respondents in Iceland (57%), Denmark (56%), Cyprus (53%) and the Netherlands (52%). Most people in Denmark feel that being able to leave one’s job temporarily would be useful (55%).
Remuneration of carers was most frequently mentioned in Slovakia (65%) and Sweden (61%). Flexible working hours was cited by over half of the respondents in Iceland (57%), Denmark (56%), Cyprus (53%) and the Netherlands (52%). Most people in Denmark feel that being able to leave one’s job temporarily would be useful (55%).
Society’s attitude
More than half of Europeans (57%) feel that their country is 'age-friendly' and almost two thirds (65%) believe so as far as their local area is concerned.
Younger people tend to feel more positively about the 'age-friendliness' of their countries than older people (60% of those aged 15-24 compared to 55% of those aged 55 and over). Those who live in rural areas describe their local area as 'age-friendly' more often than those who live in large towns.
Improvements most frequently mentioned are facilities for older people to stay fit and healthy (42%), better public transport (40%) and roads and road safety (31%). Public areas such as parks (25%), commercial premises (17%) and public buildings (15%) seem to be regarded as less problematic.
Younger people tend to feel more positively about the 'age-friendliness' of their countries than older people (60% of those aged 15-24 compared to 55% of those aged 55 and over). Those who live in rural areas describe their local area as 'age-friendly' more often than those who live in large towns.
Improvements most frequently mentioned are facilities for older people to stay fit and healthy (42%), better public transport (40%) and roads and road safety (31%). Public areas such as parks (25%), commercial premises (17%) and public buildings (15%) seem to be regarded as less problematic.
Modern technology for older people
The use of information technologies by public services and businesses to interact with the public is a major obstacle for older people according to 53% of Europeans. People aged 40-54 and 55 and over believe this more than others (56%).
Nine out of ten of citizens in Sweden, in the Netherlands, in Denmark and in the Czech Republic perceive technology as an obstacle, whilst only five out of ten feel the same in Romania.
Nine out of ten of citizens in Sweden, in the Netherlands, in Denmark and in the Czech Republic perceive technology as an obstacle, whilst only five out of ten feel the same in Romania.
© 1996 — 2010 The Baltic Course.
____________________________________________________________
Credit: Reports and photographs are property of owners of intellectual rights.
Seniors World Chronicle, a not-for-profit, serves to chronicle and widen their reach.
