ACTIVE AGEING IN EUROPE: NEW CHALLENGES AND

POLICY RESPONSESCHRIS PHILLIPSON

KEELE UNIVERSITY

ACTIVE AGEING IN EUROPE

Areas covered:

• How did Active Ageing develop?

• What is Active Ageing?

• Where did Active Ageing come from?

• Principles and policies for Active Ageing.

Milestones in the Development of Active Ageing

Emerging debate through the 1990s and 2000s

emphasising older people as active participants in society:• 1993 Year of Older People• 1999 UN Year of Older People• 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action• 2001 WHO Active ageing: from evidence to action• 2002 WHO Active Ageing: A Policy Framework• 2012 European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity

Between Generations.

What is Active Ageing?

Active ageing defined as:‘..the process of optimising opportunities for health,participation and security in order to enhancequality of life as people age. Active ageing appliesto both individuals and groups. It allows people to realise their potential for physical, social, andmental well-being throughout their lives and toparticipate in society according to their needs,desires and capacities, while providing them with adequate protection, security and care when they require assistance’.WHO, 2002 Active Ageing: A Policy Framework

WHERE DID ACTIVE AGEING COME FROM?

Variety of influences in suggesting need for a newapproach to understanding ageing:

• Ideas developed in 1970s/1980s about ‘successful’ or ‘productive’ ageing.

• Distinction between the ‘third’ and ‘fourth age’ in 1990s.• Challenges to the idea of ageing as a time of dependency and

passivity in critical perspectives on ageing in 1990s/2000s.

These ideas reinforced through concerns about:

• The pace of demographic change• Possible tensions between generations

WHERE DID ACTIVE AGEING COME FROM?

Ideas about ‘successful’ or ‘productive’ ageing

emerged in the United States in 1970s/1980s:• Successful ageing (Rowe and Kahn, 1987) focused

upon the need to develop new roles and relationships to replace those lost in the transition from work to retirement.

• Productive ageing (Morrow-Howell, 2001) developed the theme that older people could develop activities (e.g. delaying retirement, volunteering) which could defray some of the costs associated with ageing.

WHERE DID ACTIVE AGEING COME FROM?

Distinction emerges in 1990s between 3rd and 4th Age: ‘The life phase in which there is no longer employment

and child-raising to commandeer time and before morbidity enters to limit activity and mortality brings everything to a close, has been called the Third Age. Those in this phase of life have passed through a first age of youth, and a second of maturity…and have reached a third age in which they can, within fairly wide limits, live their lives as they please, before being taken over by a fourth age of decline’.

(Weiss and Bass, 2003)

WHERE DID ACTIVE AGEING COME FROM?

.

Critical gerontology develops in 1980s/1990s as a reaction to traditional approaches to ageing:

Key argument: Old age can be seen as much as a social construction as a period of life determined by biology. Old age is shaped by social attitudes and expectations, political and economic structures, and cultural beliefs and associations. (e.g. Townsend, 1981; Baars et al., 2006).

WHERE DID ACTIVE AGEING COME FROM?

Ideas about encouraging ‘activity’ and ‘participation’ were

reinforced by two other dimensions:

• DEMOGRAPHY

• INTERGENERATIONAL SOLIDARITY

1960 2020* 2040* 2060*

Belgium 12.012.0 (1.8) 19.2 (5.6) 24.3 (8.1) 25.525.5 (9.9)

Netherlands 8.9 (1.4) 19.7 (4.8) 27.0 (9.1)) 27.2 (11.1)

France 11.6 (2.0) 20.2 (6.0) 25.6 (9.4) 26.6 (11.0)

Germany 11.511.5 (1.6) 23.0 (7.2) 31.7 (10.5) 32.8 32.8 (13.5)

Spain

UK 11.7 (1.9) 18.7 (5.2) 23.2 (7.7) 24.8 (9.3)

Table 1: % of Population 65+ (80+yrs) (selected years)

* Projected values: 2020 -2060 Source: Eurostat 2012

Changes in Median & Average Age 1950-2050

30

32

34

36

38

40

42

44

46

48

501

95

0

19

60

19

70

19

80

19

90

20

00

20

10

20

20

20

30

20

40

20

50

Median Age Average Age

Source: Eurostat: EU Comm 2005

EU 27: Aging in Europe

Table 2: Life expectancy and healthy life years at aged 65, 2009

Life Expectancy at age 65 (Yrs)

Healthy Life Years at age 65 (Yrs)

Male Female Male Female

Eu-27 1 17.2 20.7 8.2 8.4

Belgium 17.5 21.1 10.5 10.1

Netherlands 17.6 21.0 9.4 10.3

France 18.7 23.7 8.8 9.2

Spain 18.3 22.5 9.2 8.4

UK 1 17.7 20.3 10.7 11.8

Germany 17.6 20.8 6.4 6.5

Sweden 18.2 21.2 13.6 14.8

Source: Eurostat 2012

WHERE DID ACTIVE AGEING COME FROM? THE INTERGENERATIONAL SOLIDARITY

CONTEXT

Why the focus on generations & solidarity?• Concern that expanding population of

older people will create pressures on younger generations.

• Need to develop measures which draw links between different generations.

• Need to reinforce existing contacts e.g. through the family and within the community.

Table 3: % of individuals who think there is alot of tension between young & old people

2003 2007

EU 27 - 17.717.7

Belgium 21 17.517.5

Netherlands 19 12.512.5

Germany 13 1515

France 23 16.916.9

Spain 14 19.619.6

UK 17 20.520.5

Hungary - 30.830.8

Croatia - 3636

Source: European Quality of Life Survey

DEVELOPING ACTIVE AGEING

• PRINCIPLES OF ACTIVE AGEING

• POLITICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVES

• POLICY INITIATIVES

• NEW SOLIDARITES

PILLARS OF ACTIVE AGEING

EXTENDING WORK PENSIONS

PUBLIC HEALTH

POLICY INITIATIVES

NEW

SOLIDARITIES

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PRINCIPLES OF ACTIVE AGEING

PRINCIPLES OF ACTIVE AGEING

Key Principles:• ‘Activity’ should be meaningful to individual concerned –

family and community-based and not just work.• ‘Activity’ should be developed across the whole life

course – hence include all age groups.• ‘Activity’ should be an opportunity to explore rights and

obligations which span generations.• ‘Activity’ should be empowering and participative.• ‘Activity’ should recognise national and cultural

diversity.(Walker and Maltby, 2012)

POLITICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES

Nation-states/European Union• Linking of improvement in life expectancy with

upward revision of pension ages.• Reform of public health and earlier detection of

diseases alongside health promotion and self-health care.

• Changes to pension system and reduction of proportions of people at risk of poverty (arguably the biggest risk to achieving active ageing).

Table 4: Share of population with specific difficulties, 2009 (Single Adults 65+)

Unable to keep home warm

Unable to pay 1 week Annual Holiday from

home

Unable to afford meal every

second day

% % %

EU27 11.711.7 43.643.6 13.113.1

Belgium 7.0 42.6 6.2

Germany 5.8 27.1 13.8

France 6.9 42.6 9.9

Netherlands 1.7 20.7 2.8

Spain 9.9 49.2 12.3

UK 5.0 22.7 4.0

Poland 29.1 77.5 28.2

Source: Eurostat 2012

POLICY INITIATIVES

• INTER-GENERATIONAL EDUCATION

• INTER-GENERATIONAL CITIES

• INTER-GENERATIONAL ENVIROMENTAL ACTIVITIES

INTER-GENERATIONAL EDUCATION

• WHO (2001) Active Ageing argues that education can provide a contribution to improving the quality of later life.

Key role for universities/ adult education: • Can play a leading role in creating a new type of ageing for

the 21st century, built around extended economic, family and citizenship roles

• Supporting people in the two decades beyond their main work careers

• Unlocking mental capital and supporting well-being in later life

• Supporting health and social care professionals in their work with older people

21

Age Profile of UK Postgraduate Students

2009-2010

Universities/ adult education and older learners

23

Educational andpersonal development

programmes

Educational andpersonal development

programmes

Employment-relatedprogrammes

Employment-relatedprogrammes

Social Inclusion programmes

Social Inclusion programmes

Health and social care programmes

aimed at professionals working

with older people

Health and social care programmes

aimed at professionals working

with older people

Universities and older learners

Three Key Challenges

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DEVELOPING INTER-GENERATIONAL CITIES

Age-friendly cities (AFCs) are a significant part of debate on active ageing. WHO (2007) argue that older people require supportive and enabling environments to compensate for physical andsocial changes associated with ageing.• ‘Making cities more age-friendly is a

necessary and logical response to promote the wellbeing and contributions of older urban residents and keep cities thriving’

(WHO, 2007)

DEVELOPING INTER-GENERATIONAL CITIES

BENEFITS OF CITIESBENEFITS OF CITIES Infrastructure of public facilities – ‘public affluence’

versus ‘privatized consumerism’ (Davis, 2002) Specialist resources for minority groups – may be of

particular importance in old age (Buffel et al., 2012). Broader range of social networks

– importance of strangers & neighbours as well as friends and family (Gardner, 2011)

Innovation in cities e.g. smart city movement (Ratti and Townsend, 2011);

social networking technology.

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DEVELOPING INTER-GENERATIONAL CITIES

New Vision for inter-generational cities:

• SHARED SPACES?SHARED SPACES?

• SHARED HOUSING?SHARED HOUSING?

• SHARED FACILITIES?SHARED FACILITIES?

INTERGENERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES

‘Environment as a natural connector of generations’

‘Older adults are concerned about the world they are leaving behind for … younger generations. The young are concerned about the state of the world they will inherit. Both populations are often particularly susceptible to the same environmental health hazards… They are each at an age when they are more likely to live life in their neighbourhoods and have more flexibility in their schedules than working, commuting middle generations’. (Steinig and Butts, 2010)

DEVELOPING INTER-GENERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES

• COMMUNITY GARDENING INITIATIVES

• UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND OLDER PEOPLE

DEVELOPING INTER-GENERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES

Research project on community gardening

(Scharf et al. 2011) in low income area of

Manchester, UK.• To what extent does participation in gardening

projects facilitate older people’s social engagement?

• What do older people regard as the benefits and challenges of participation in a gardening initiative?

DEVELOPING INTER-GENERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES

• Potential benefits arising from gardening activities:– Good physical and mental health (van den Berg et al., 2010)– Maintenance of healthy lifestyles (Hope and Ellis, 2009)– Positive well-being outcomes, including reduced isolation

(Wakefield et al., 2007)– Increased life satisfaction and greater independence (Bhatti,

2006; Wakefield et al., 2007)– Increased opportunities and ability to learn new skills (Gillaspie,

1988)– Urban farming initiatives

Before After

DEVELOPING INTER-GENERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES

• Assuming ownership, taking control:– “It’s something that we feel is in our control and not

management’s. Telling us, saying ‘You mustn’t do this, you mustn’t do that’. We put the plants in that we want to put in. It’s as simple as that. And it’s a form of feeling ‘Well, at least we’ve got control of something’.” (Valerie, Group A)

– “I’m not the only person who is frustrated to death in here [sheltered housing]. It’s been a Godsend to me the garden club. And I think everybody else has felt the same. You can go out there and do things, take responsibility for something.” (Sue, Group B)

DEVELOPING INTER-GENERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES

• Increasing social engagement:– “When we started I was very lonely, I didn’t have a hobby. I

didn’t have company apart from the family […] It has given me something to do. I didn’t feel so lonely. You feel isolated. So if there is nothing going on in the lounge you can do gardening.” (Judith, Group A)

– ‘It gives me so much pleasure for anybody that’s passing and you know they come here from the school clubs and they always stop and have a look. And it lifts me then. It makes me want to do it… And that’s what gardener’s want…to give everyone pleasure’. (Alf, Group B).

DEVELOPING INTER-GENERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES

University students and older people • The "Dig it!" programme engages the community and students

in themes around growing edible plants, composting and supporting biodiversity.

• Students and older ‘Grey Matters’ members are engaged and planning activities through events and volunteering using an environmental centre at Keele Unversity. Allotments [volkstuintje (door de overheid verhuurd)] are being developed on the campus to demonstrate and exchange skills in gardening and conservation.

• The allotments in particular offer an environment to demonstrate the principles and practice of intergenerational knowledge exchange and provide experiential learning to the community

• http://www.keele.ac.uk/keelehub/

DEVELOPING NEW SOLIDARITIES

• MUTUAL SOLIDARITIES – re-discovering the skills of co-operation (Sennett, 2012)

• GENERATIONAL AND FRIENDSHIP SOLIDARITIES – valuing grand-parenting and peer support.

• CARING SOLIDARITIES – re-defining care for the most vulnerable (e.g. those with dementia).

• GLOBAL SOLIDARITIES – sharing skills and knowledge with low income countries with rapidly ageing populations.

REFERENCES

Age Platform Europe (2011) How to promote active ageing in Europe.Buffel, T. Phillipson, C. and Scharf, T. (2012, forthcoming) Ageing in Urban Environments: developing

age-friendly cities, Critical Social Policy Vol. 36Christensen, K et al. (2009) Ageing populations: the challenges ahead. The Lancet Vol.374Eurostat (2012) Active ageing and solidarity between generations. A Statistical portrait of the EU

2012.European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. Second European

Quality of Life SurveyMiddling, S. et al. Gardening and the social engagement of older people. Working with Older People

Vol 15 (3)Phillipson, C. (2010) Active ageing and universities: engaging older learners. International Journal of

Education and Ageing. Vol 1 (1)Sennett, R (2012) Together: The Rituals, Pleasures and Politics of Co-Operation London: Allen Lane Steinig, S and Butts, D (2010) Generations Going Green: Intergenerational Programs Connecting Young and

Old to Improve Our Environment Walker, A. and Maltby, T. (2012) Active Ageing: A strategic policy solution to demographic ageing in

Europe. Int. Jrnl of Soc WelfareWHO (2002) Active Ageing: A policy framework. Geneva: WHOWHO (2007) Global Age Friendly Cities: A Guide. Geneva: WHO