Vappu Taipale 23.4.2004

Director General, professor

Independent Living and Gerontechnology

In the broader geographic area of Europe, where the overall population amounts to 800 million people, there are currently about 100 million older people and 50 million older people with disabilities. The latter figure includes people with disabilities who are also elderly. The demographic development will be seen in the mushroom shape of the population pyramids in most countries of the European Union and the broader European region. It is important to note that less people in gainful employment will have to take care for more older people, not only economically but also in providing the care and support in need.

Globally, we will be faced with demographic, structural social and technological changes of major importance, which are likely to have consequences in a variety of areas, including, financing of social security systems, financing and organisation of health and care systems.

Ageing is the most important issue for the next 40 years.

The ageing process will not only change the population structure of the ountries profoundly. The process will be intersectoral, part of everything. It will cover all policy areas.Although there are few things in economic and social life that are predictable, the ageing of population is one such thing in the world. All responsible politicians, civil servants and NGO's should be aware about the consequences of a greying world for the societies.

Due to the strong correlation between age and disability about 70% of people with a disability are aged over 60. Furthermore there is a significant correlation the incidence of multiple impairments and age. For instance, an increase of the prevalence of disability in the total population of Europe is expected to rise from about 11% today to 17% in the year 2020.

The changing age balance will reshape the demographic, social and cultural structure of the societies. The increase in the number of older people does not come as a surprise and it is not either a matter of chance, because long life has been our explicit objective in many contexts. We have built pension systems and improved health care systems and social services. In spite of that we still lack knowledge about the interaction of different policies and phenomena, and especially about the needs of older people.

Why research on ageing is important:

Ageing is a natural process, a cultural, social and physiological phenomenon, which we have to gradually understand better. This implies active, multidisciplinary research in the field. While older persons in all societies live active, healthy lives and do not need any help, ageing may gradually cause multiple minor disabilities. All ageing people undergo sensory and cognitive changes. This situation demands for an active development of gerontechnology.

The five important A:s to be considered when developing the society and its services for older people and people with disabilities are:

Availability

Accessibility

Affordability

Awareness and

Appropriateness.

We need a real equality of access – such as access to buildings and services, including education, training and employment – for older people. Ability to integrate will increase both the quality of life and independence. We have to develop policies and technologies to prevent loss of function due to age or disability. Being in adequate physical condition is a vital prerequisite for people to be able to manage on their own, and consequently also for keeping the resources spent on care in check.

There are many areas where social, organisational and technological innovation might significantly modify the effects of population change by promoting independent living.

The major challenges are:

  • Extension of working life
  • Improvement of the accessibility of environment and the activity, mobility and quality of life of older people
  • Development of innovations for prevention and care

Gerontechnological research

Research on aging is a vigorous field today and there is a worldwide competition.. But what is the situation within gerontechnological research & development activities? Lack in building a solid r & d basis in this field is a serious problem for the societies with severe consequences. Emphasis should be put on prerequisites of independent living, the needs of an greying population and user points of view in developing new technological innovations.

Research is scarce on the relationship between ageing and autonomy, quality of life, mental abilities and productivity. Sociodemographic, environmental, psychosocial, biophysiologic factors are also related to aging. Patterns of changes in ageing should be evaluated. The "ecology of ageing" becomes more important, because individual expression of genome reflects the interaction with physical and social environment. Our recent understanding of vision and auditory ageing suggest several areas in which research is particularly promising.

With increasing number of older people we can expect an increasing need of care. A polarization is expected: more young older people with better functioning ability than today, able to continue working, and an increasing number of very old, frail older people with disabilities. We definitely need more research on the "geriatric giants": immobility, instability, cognitive decline, and malnutrition. There also gerontechnology should have a say.

The emphasis in technological research is mostly on information and communication technology research. A more holistic view is needed, including other technologies including telemedicine and remote sensing as well as human factors and structures of care and support.

In conclusion

The European Union, at the threshold of expansion, has particular reason to pay attention to the phenomena and conditions that lead to exclusion. All States are now faced with demographic, structural, social and technological changes of major importance, which are likely to have consequences in a variety of areas

In relation to the development of ageing policies in Europe, all Member States will need much more knowledge concerning the needs and requirements of their older populations – and the options available, as the “senior boom” takes hold. Research-based solutions will be needed to feed into technical innovation on a massive scale, not only in terms of products and systems for disability and rehabilitation, and not only innovations for prevention and care, but also innovations for enabling better participation, a higher standard of living and a better quality of life for increasingly active senior citizens.

We have to develop a perspective, which enables all societies to see the population changes as positive opportunities for societies and economies. The opportunity lies in innovative social, organisational and technological responses to the rising challenges. These challenges of ageing need to be taken into account in the design of innovative solutions also in future research & development policies, in technological policies, in cultural policies and in social welfare and health policies.

Europe is becoming more powerful. Policy-makers will have a unique opportunity to improve the quality of life of the ageing Europe by encouraging stronger commitment.

Research on ageing, including gerontechnological r & d, is perhaps the most important issue of our societies. It deserves more attention in the future All research shall seek for solutions providing quality of life, lowest possible dependency and social interaction. A holistic approach to the issues of ageing including human factors, modern technologies as well as structures of care and support needs to be fostered in the future research.