Policy brief: Introducing Active Ageing Index (original) (raw)
Related papers
Active Ageing Index (2016–18): Addressing a Long-Standing Strategic Policy Aim
Journal of Population Ageing, 2020
We are delighted again to publish key papers from the work with the Active Ageing Index (2016-18). Our support of this tool, sponsored by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the European Commission's Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, has endured a long relationship. As we described in our previous special edition on the AAI (JPA, 10, 2017), this emerged from a long-standing strategic policy aim expressed by the European Union (EU), United Nations and European Council to help promote and implement active ageing at regional (UNECE, European Union), national and local levels. As a result, the "Active Ageing Index" (AAI) was developed and launched in 2012, in collaboration with the European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research in Vienna and with the support of a multi-stakeholder expert group. The AAI comprises twenty-two indicators grouped into four domains. The first three aim to capture experiences and achievements: employment; participation in society; and independent, healthy and secure living. The fourth-capacity and enabling environment for active ageing-quantifies the contextual conditions. In detail 1 the indicators used for the first domain are the employment rate for four 5-year age groups, from 55 to 74 years. Indicators in the "participation in society" domain concern informal care provision (to children, grandchildren, but also to adults in need of care), voluntary activities and political participation. The third domain includes physical exercise, access to health services, being able to live independently, financial security, physical safety, and lifelong learning. The last domain is devoted to the capacity and enabling environment for active ageing, and considers aspects such as healthy life expectancy, mental well-being, internet use, active relations. This second collection of papers were presented during the Second International Seminar on the Active Ageing Index in Bilbao in September 2018, 2 sponsored by the
Active ageing: A strategic policy solution to demographic ageing in the European Union
International Journal of Social Welfare, 2012
A strategic policy solution to demographic ageing in the European Union The ageing of European countries has widespread implications for current and future social and economic policies across the region. The major policy response to demographic ageing that has emerged over the past 10 years is called 'active ageing', yet there is little clarity in practice about what it means for individuals and society beyond a crude economic reduction in terms of working longer. The main purposes of this article are to explain why this strategy has emerged and its importance. Despite a great deal of positive political rhetoric, the response at all levels of policy making has been rather limited. An active social and public policy is required to mainstream active ageing as the leading paradigm for ageing policy across the European Union (EU). The designation of 2012 as the European Year of Active Ageing offers a potential focus for renewed policy action in the EU and is discussed in the context of our conclusions.
2014
Ageing of the population and increasing life expectancy that have been observed in almost all European countries, have led to a widespread focus on active ageing. The active ageing policy discourse links specifically with the ‘social ageing’ phenomenon rather than with ‘demographic ageing’ (Zaidi et al., 2013). The latter concept is defined as either chronological ageing (i.e. age lived), or prospective ageing, that is remaining life years to be expected. Social ageing is defined in terms of stage in the life course and remaining years of life. This concept refers to an individual’s changing roles and relationships with family and friends, in both paid and unpaid productive roles and in various organisations (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2010) and it emphasises expectations as well as institutional constraints that define how people live and work as they age. It takes into account, among others, prospective age, changes in health, life expectancy, cognitive capacity, (dis)ability, workability o...
Active ageing measures in selected European Union countries Final Report
2013
Translating and proofreading EBS Group s.c. Tlumaczenia24.pl Typesetting, graphics and printing PPH ZAPOL The research within the framework of the Equal opportunities in the labour market for people aged 50+ project, carried out by the Human Resource Development Centre with funds from the European Social Fund, initiated by the Department of Economic Analyses and Forecasts of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, conducted by the University of Lodz, the Project Partner. The project is carried out under Measure 1.1. "System support to labour market institutions" of the Human Capital Operational Programme. Views and conclusions included in this publication express the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. Publication distributed free of charge.
Active and Successful Aging: A European Policy Perspective
The Gerontologist, 2014
Over the past two decades, "active aging" has emerged in Europe as the foremost policy response to the challenges of population aging. This article examines the concept of active aging and how it differs from that of "successful aging." In particular, it shows how active aging presents a more holistic, life course-oriented approach than successful aging. We provide a critical perspective on active aging too by, first, tracing its emergence in Europe and then showing how, in practice, it has been dominated by a narrow economic or productivist perspective that prioritizes the extension of working life. It has also been gender blind. Nonetheless, it is argued that an active aging approach has the potential to enable countries to respond successfully to the challenges of population aging because of its comprehensive focus and emphasis on societal as well as individual responsibility. Finally, we set out the basic principles that need to be followed if the full potent...
This booklet synthesizes where we stand 5 years after the 2nd UN World Assembly on Ageing of Madrid in 2002, based on the UNECE Ministerial Conference in Leon Spain in 2007. The results are presented at 3 levels: i) Governmental with the Ministerial Review of the Madrid Intl Plan of Action ii) Scientific with the Main Conclusions and Recommendations of the Research Forum (part VII - pp. 95-96) iii) Non-Governmental Organizations’ Declaration (part VI - page 93) Background Twenty-five years have passed since the first UN World Assembly on Ageing , held in Vienna in 1982, which marked the first time in history that ageing was put on the political agenda as one of the most salient developments of our times. The UN International Plan of Action on Ageing adopted by the Assembly prompted policymakers to put more efforts in the field. Subsequent international instruments, and specifically the United Nations Principles for Older Persons, as well as the observation of 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons, further emphasized the resolve of the international community to address ageing and the challenges that it creates. Various other international instruments adopted by major United Nations conferences and summits have played a significant role in advancing the thinking on what are the most appropriate policies and programmes in the field of ageing. In September 2002, five months after the second World Assembly on Ageing, the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) was adopted. The 2002 UNECE Ministerial Conference on Ageing in Berlin considered and adopted its Regional Implementation Strategy (RIS). The Strategy includes a concrete catalogue of measures in the form of 10 commitments, the implementation of which was reviewed at the Ministerial Conference in León Spain in November 2007.