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Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe

Andrzej Ryś - Director Public HealthEuropean Commission

DG SANCO28 November 2008

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Healthy Ageing

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Changes in the European societyThe number of elderly people in the EU will

increase significantly after 2010 and until around 2030 (+ 37.4%).

The European continent is the only region in the world whose population is set to decrease in the years to come, with a growth rate of -0.28 per cent

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What does it mean – elderly?

Retirement?Bad Health Status?Not useful for the society anymore?

NO!Elderly are healthier, living longer and are more active as in the past!

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Definition – elderly?

The definition of elderly by SHARE is 50+ which is not in line with other definitions of elderly. Some definitions counting elderly above 65 where in several MS people go to retirement.A common definition of elderly is not available

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EU Policy on Ageing

At the Lisbon Council in March 2000, the EU leaders noted the challenges Europe is facing from globalization, an ageing population, and the emergence to monitor the development of the ageing society

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The EU Health Strategy: challenges

Expanding EU:growing health gaps Ageing

Population

Climate Change, Pandemic and Bioterrorism Threats

Lifestyle Related Diseases

Migration &Cross Border

Healthcare

New Technology and Innovation

Globalisation

Safety

Citizens wantmore

control

White paper on Nutrition Communication on Alcohol

Tobacco control strategy

Health informationand Health Portal

ECDC

Interactions with WHO

Patients’ Rights in Cross-border Healthcare

Health investments through Structural Funds etc

Pharmaceutical Forum

Projects fundedCross-sectoral work

Organs, blood, tissues and cellsPharmaceuticalsMedical devices

Food safety

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The EU Health Strategy: Content

Four PrinciplesA value-driven approachHealth is WealthHealth in all Policies Global Health

Three Strategic objectivesFostering Good Health in an Ageing EuropeProtecting Citizens from Health ThreatsSupporting Dynamic Health Systems and New Technologies

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What can the EU do ?

The strategy foresees:

A lifecycle approach to increase HLY by promoting health and preventing diseases in particular by supporting healthy choices (e.g. nutrition, exercise…)

Actions to promote Healthy ageing/ health of older people

Projects financed by the Health Programme

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DG SANCO

Monitoring the development of the ageing society is carried out by DG SANCO with indicator develop by the Commission.

The Healthy Life Year Indicator

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Health Life Year Indicator

What we are measuring with the Healthy Life Year Indicator (HLY)?

The number of remaining years that a person of a certain age is still supposed to live without disability

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Why is it so important to know the years people are living without disabilities?There several answers –

Quality of life – fun, joy and wellbeingEconomic aspects – people can work longer, participate longer in social life (consumption, travel….)Health – health care, hospitals, doctors and nurses

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Healthy Life Years – trends in the EUTo stress this point at the beginning,

HLY are not to compare countries!It is a trend!

In general people live longer and healthier but the target of

increasing participation of older people into the labour force will be

difficult to meet

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In autumn 2008 this report was published.Here you can find for all EU Member States EU (2004) single country reports

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Life Expectancies and Healthy Life Years in the EU25 2005

0102030405060708090

At birth Age 50 Age 65 At birth Age 50 Age 65

Men Women

Year

s

LE

HLY

LEwML

LEwSM

Where LE indicates Life Expectancy, HLY indicates Healthy Life Years, LEwML indicates Life Expectancy with moderate activity limitations and LEwSM indicates Life Expectancy with severe activity limitations.

Graph from the HLY report

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HLY and SHARE?

Do they have someting in commen?Yes – they do!SHARE is one of the tools to calculate the

HLY indicators.

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Conclusion

Healthy ageing is the key for a sustainable Europe Europe needs to increase Healthy Life Years – and channel its programmes to support healthy ageingEU, governments, NGOs, doctors – all have a role in promoting healthy ageing.

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This is our aim – ENJOY YOUR LIFE!