It is a report edited by the Office of Science and Technology of the Congress of Deputies, which addresses the current context and evidence, both scientific and technological, and its consequences on aging and well-being.
For its preparation, a bibliographic review of 246 documents has been carried out and has been complemented with consultations with professionals in the field (scientific personnel, researchers…).
It describes the factors that influence aging and how the health, pension and long-term care systems can adapt to meet the demographic challenge.
Below, we leave you a brief summary of the content of the report:
Currently, 20.1% of the Spanish population is over 65 years old, which places Spain among the European countries with the most elderly people. It is estimated that this figure will increase in the coming years, reaching 30.4% in 2050.
Longevity is an achievement, but it is also a challenge. The decrease in personal autonomy, unwanted loneliness or the digital divide are some of the problems that the elderly population has to face. It also represents a challenge for society as a whole, since aging leads to an increase in retirement pensions, as well as greater use of health systems and social services.
The goal is not only to live longer, but to do so with health and well-being.
It is considered that the healthy and active aging It is the way to promote the health and quality of life of older people, as well as guarantee the sustainability of the system.
Some of the factors that influence healthy and active aging are:
- Ageism (set of stereotypical ideas and images that lead to prejudice and discrimination towards a group due to their age). Equipping advanced age with vulnerability and dependence represents an obstacle to active aging, since older people may perceive themselves as not very capable and exclude themselves. In addition to intensifying the intergenerational gap.
- Psychological and emotional well-being. The evidence shows that psychological well-being has an impact on health and quality of life. Older people who have protective psychological resources such as the desire to live have greater resilience and optimism.
- Unwanted loneliness. The incidence of unwanted loneliness increases after the age of 75 and is higher in women than in men. Unwanted loneliness is linked to social isolation, shortens life expectancy, worsens health, and decreases happiness.
- Economy. Economic capacity influences access to active and healthy aging. The main source of income for the elderly group is retirement pensions. In Spain, the risk of poverty for people over 65 years of age is around 18.7%, below the average risk in Spain. However, this risk is greater for people who interrupted their careers, self-employed or part-time workers, or migrants. On the contrary, in Spain net wealth reaches its maximum in the population between 65 and 74 years old.
- around. Both the urban and social environments must have the necessary services adapted to older people. Clean, safe, walkable cities, with green areas, etc., promote active aging, since they promote participation in society, the inclusion of the elderly and have a positive impact on health.
- Digital divide. The digital divide makes it difficult for older people to access everyday services, which limits their autonomy and social inclusion.
- Biological and socio-health factors. Aging varies considerably among people of the same age. This variability corresponds to factors such as genetic inheritance, gender (women live longer, but with worse health and more limitations), lifestyle (eating healthy diets, not smoking…), socioeconomic factors (educational level, type ). work, environment…), suffering from chronic diseases or fragility (reversible stage prior to disability).
As mentioned above, increasing longevity represents a challenge for the entire community due to the increase in retirement pensions and greater use of health systems and social services. However, according to studies by the European Commission, the aging of the population is not the main reason for this increase in spending, but rather years of living in poor health, functional deterioration and loss of autonomy.
Some of the actions included in the report to respond to the demographic challenge and contribute to the sustainability of the system are:
- Adaptation of the pension system. Among the proposals of the European Commission are the extension of working life and establishing flexible retirement regimes, among others.
- Adaptation of the health system. Strategies for preventing chronic diseases and frailty. Strengthen primary and geriatric care services. Use technology to streamline health services in those treatments where presence is not necessary, etc.
- Transformation of the care model. Currently, the Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030 is developing a strategy whose objective is to change the care model so that people have more support in their usual environment and can live longer at home or even not have to leave it. Some of the means used to achieve this will be telecare services, collaborative housing…
To consult the complete report you can click on the following link:
Sources:
➡Office of Science and Technology of the Congress of Deputies (Office C). Report C: Aging and well-being. (2023) www.doi.org/10.57952/q3ze-2c39
➡Office of Science and Technology of the Congress of Deputies (Office C). Report C. Graphic summary: Air quality: advances and best practices. (2023) www.doi.org/10.57952/n5jw-1n97
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