European year of active ageing: Frieda Brepoels

Frieda Brepoels urges European policymakers to fully support the 2012 year of active ageing.

I recently co-hosted the first-ever debate on Parkinson’s disease to be held in the European parliament together with Linda McAvan, MEP, and the European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA). The discussion, entitled ‘Chronic diseases in an ageing population – a spotlight on Parkinson’s disease’, was held on 22 November and attended by about 80 people, including a dozen MEPs plus their assistants. Special guests included Maria Iglesia-Gomez and Paul Timmers, two European commission officials in public health and health innovation policy, who spoke on the European innovation programme on active and healthy ageing (EIP AHA).

Why this debate? Today, more than 1.2 million people live with Parkinson’s in Europe, which makes the disease the second most common neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer’s disease, and this number is forecast to double by 2030 due to our ageing populations. As a result, apart from the enormous impact on patients’ lives, the economic impact of the disease is equally significant and has been estimated to cost European healthcare systems €13.9bn a year.

The discussion aimed at raising awareness on Parkinson’s and highlighted the importance of the right treatment for the right person at the right time. The brave and emotive testimony of Branko Šmid – a Slovenian man who has lived with Parkinson’s disease for almost 25 years – was crucial in this regard. He arrived in a wheelchair, having come off his treatment, to highlight the effects of the disease when no medication is available. He returned 20 minutes later, back on his treatment, and was able to eloquently discuss his disease in detail. The overriding issue was clear: there is so much that we, the policymakers, have to do to improve the situation – not only for those people with Parkinson’s but for the millions of people who live with chronic diseases in Europe. The European Parkinson’s disease standards of care consensus statement launched by the EPDA at the debate is an important reference document in this regard. The guidelines describe the areas that need to be focused on in order to effect change. We, the policymakers, have to understand that change is as much in society’s interests as it is for the patients. With our ageing population increasing, doing nothing is not an option.

There is no better time to act than now. The 2012 European year of active ageing has just begun, the first actions of the EIP AHA are just being launched, and the European commission is well underway with its reflection period on chronic diseases. The year of active ageing is an opportunity for us all to consider how people ageing with a chronic disease can stay in the workforce longer to help maintain their dignity and active roles in society. We need to think about joint strategies that enable people with serious diseases to continue to participate. Of course, these are challenges. But I believe they are also opportunities for Europe to lead in providing innovative solutions. With this in mind, I welcome the recent EIP AHA strategic implementation plan, which sets out priority actions designed to meet our society’s ageing challenges.

I urge policymakers to get behind the 2012 push to strengthen active ageing policies across Europe and promote opportunities for economic growth and job creation, including people facing difficulties. Finally, in 2012, we must work to combat the negative stereotypes that marginalise older people – especially those with chronic diseases – and raise awareness of the importance and usefulness of their active participation in family, social and economic life.

Frieda Brepoels co-hosted the first debate on Parkinson's disease to be held in the European parliament