A new vision for old age

http://www.actasanitaria.com/fileset/file__LON___IS___Pfizer___Europe_s_Ageing_Societies_V11_64162.pdf

A new vision for old age


Rethinking health policy for Europe’s ageing society

A report from the Economist Intelligence Unit
 

 Policymakers can no longer afford to ignore the impact of demographic shift on healthcare and other issues.

 Healthcare professionals themselves are worried about the quality of care they will receive as they get older.

 The outlook does not have to be negative—demographic shift could also present a golden opportunity for reform.

 There is now little evidence of a mechanistic link between greater longevity and healthcare costs

 Preventive health measures are widely seen as one of the best ways to reduce pressure on healthcare systems

 However, increasing numbers of people will be living with more than one chronic condition as they age

 Making the most of longer life expectancy requires new policy initiatives that go beyond healthcare

 These initiatives will be harder to achieve until health and social care are clearly demarcated

 Policymakers will need to manage citizens’ expectations for the way they wish to be treated as they age.

 Ageing societies face a shortage of healthcare workers trained in the issues of older patients

 Addressing this issue will require a reorganisation of the way in which care is delivered

 Addressing ageist attitudes will make this sort of reorganisation easier