Editorial
https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2020.61.75
Is there a better future of healthy aging?
Mirjana Kujundžić Tiljak
; Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, University of Zagreb
Željko Reiner
; Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Center
Marijan Klarica
; Department of Pharmacology and Croatian Institute of Brain
Abstract
Population aging affects almost every sphere of society.
The number of people aged 60 or older has surpassed 1
billion, and the majority of them lives in low-income and
middle-income countries, often without access to basic
resources and facing barriers to full social participation.
The number of European citizens aged over 65 in the next
50 years will increase two times, while the number of oc-
togenarians will increase three times. However, a longer
life does not necessarily mean a healthier or a more active
life. Today, unhealthy life years amount to almost 20% of a
person’s life.
An aging population, mainly due to the presence of
chronic diseases, requires greater use of health care ser-
vices, leading to unsustainable health care costs (1). The
challenges posed by aging population in Europe have
been the focal point of debates on the future of European
Union. An increasing number of retired people, coupled
with a shrinking working-age population, is expected to
place additional burden on European welfare systems.
European 2020 Strategy for Smart, Sustainable, and Inclu-
sive Growth has been implemented with an aim to pro-
mote active aging policies. Besides eradicating poverty
and social exclusion, the strategy emphasizes the need
for “promoting a healthy and active ageing population to
allow for social cohesion and higher productivity” (2). Simi-
larly, the initiative of European Innovation Partnership in
Active and Healthy Aging by the European Commission
fosters innovation and digital transformation in active
and healthy aging.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
253115
URI
Publication date:
14.6.2020.
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