The silver economy

Many older employees and pensioners nowadays suffer fromphysiological problems, loneliness and misery, while many migrants have thedesire to return back to their place of origin. Many difficulties can arisewhen ensuring personal assistance to the elderly, not only with regard topersonal care, but as well when it comes to basic consumer products. Shops aremoving into large shopping centres on the outskirts of cities, while in citycentres and the countryside, the supply of products for a wider range ofconsumers is decreasing. The elderly need everyday products such as fresh foodand newspapers. Home delivery and internet shopping are good solutions, but theolder range of consumer is still not covered entirely. In many countries olderpeople cannot sign up for mobile phone contracts, take loans, take upactivities, because they have retired and therefore their mobility is limited.However, older people can, with their knowledge and experiences, make a greatcontribution to problem solving, which is relevant for the private and publicsectors. They still have the ability and the will to cooperate with youngergenerations. Migrants have some similar concerns to the elderly and they feeltheir own problems even more, since their place of origin is somewhere faraway.

Mihael Brejc is co-president of parliament’s intergroup onageing

We are getting used to hearing the demographic argumentsabout the need for migrant workers of all skill levels to ensure that the EUcan maintain its workforce as our own population ages, or to fill currentskills gaps as we try to increase the skill levels of our existing populations.A considerable number of those migrants work in the care sector, providingsupport for many older people: some employers are keen to use what they see asa cultural positive in some migrant groups – their greater respect for theirelders. Within the EU, we are seeing increasing numbers of people retiringabroad, usually to warmer climates where their money might go further. This canhave a dramatic effect on local communities as house prices rise. It can alsoput pressure on local utilities through high demand for water and airconditioning. The concentration of an ageing population can put pressure onlocal medical and social services and many migrants (sorry, expats, as theyprefer to call themselves) are shocked to realise that services available to themare not the same as “at home”. At the other end of the scale, we see many olderpeople trapped in rural areas as local services decline and, due to poor publictransport systems, they cannot access health or postal services easily. Ourconcentration on immigration may mean we are paying insufficient attention tointernal migration patterns and their consequences.

Jean Lambert is co-president of parliament’s intergroup onageing

Demographic change has to be seen as a common Europeanphenomenon. On the one hand, an increased life expectancy can be observed evenin those countries where it was substantially lower before; on the other, thereare decreasing fertility rates all around Europewith the exception of only one or two countries. As a result, the labour marketwill be characterised by the lack of labour supply. Although there are internalreserves to fill this gap, it is still hard or even impossible to bring thevarious groups of inactive people back to the labour market. Most of them livein depressed regions and are characterised by low qualifications combined withweak geographical mobility. This means that economic migration has to play animportant role in the supply of labour. But, we still do not give sufficientconsideration to the role of older workers in labour supply. It is oftenoverlooked that in an ageing society, new markets open up due to the demand fornew types of services such as formal care and the development of home andinstitutional care. Care facilities and services for the elderly can be seen asnew possibilities for absorbing those less wanted on the labour market. Thefunding of these services – if they are of high quality – should not onlyinvolve public spending but may also open the way for private investment aswell. This special circle closes up here: the increasing number of elderlyraises the spectre of social contribution, but at the same time it mightstimulate the internal market to create new workplaces, helping to meet therequirements of decent life and decent work.

Magda Kósáné Kovács is co-president of parliament’sintergroup on ageing

 

Next to global warming, the ageing of Europe’spopulations is the most pressing issue the EU now faces. The average lifeexpectancy in Europe today is 80, and thenumber of people aged 65 to 80 will rise by 40 per cent between 2010 and 2030.One challenge to the European social model that is often overlooked is themovement of elderly EU citizens to other countries. Already health services insouthern Spain areoverburdened due to the influx of retirees from northern Europe.With new member states such as Bulgariaand Romaniabecoming increasingly popular among homebuyers across the EU, we need to ensurethat the services that support elderly people – geriatric healthcare, but also transportservices and local amenities – are given full support to adapt to these newchallenges. As rapporteur on ambient assisted living (AAL) technology, Irecently steered a report through parliament that will pool member states’resources to fund research into how best to adapt elderly people’s housing sothey can live independently at home for longer. This is a cost-effective way toensure that provision everywhere is of the same standard. Our priority must beto secure the welfare of elderly people all over Europe,wherever they choose to live.

Neena Gill is rapporteur on ambient assisted livingtechnology

 

Only seven per cent of EU migrants want to return to theircountry of origin when they reach retirement. A competitive European marketneeds strong social fundaments in order to create a dynamic economy thatincludes everyone. I support a society of all ages. If living longer than 75 israther the norm than the exception, it will be necessary for us all tounderstand peoples’ different needs and requirements for the future. The ageingof the population and demographic changes, like migration, can, however, beseen as an opportunity for new jobs in a growing market with new products andservices which improve quality of life for older people, for economic growthand for improving Europe’s competitiveness. This is the so-called silvereconomy. Recent calculations for Germany have shown that a proactiveresponse to the needs and interests of the sometimes increasingly rich elderlycould lead to 900,000 new jobs in the next two decades. The policy on ageingaims to enable older persons, whether fit or frail, to be as self-reliant aspossible and as involved as they can manage and desire. This requires thedevelopment of new services in member states: innovative urban planning andsocial housing, access to services, social activity planning, new services inelderly assistance and healthcare and lifelong learning must be taken intoaccount. The changing European demographic will not only lead to imbalances inthe labour market, but also to instability of our social fabric when migrantworkers stop working.

Lambert van Nistelrooij is co-president of parliament’sintergroup on ageing

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