"If we want to support active and healthy ageing, we need to focus on prevention at all ages". This was one of the key messages delivered by Birgitta Sacrédeus (EPP/SE), Councillor of Dalarna Region, whose draft opinion on Active and Healthy Ageing was adopted with a clear majority at the meeting of the Committee of the Regions' NAT Commission on 17 June.
A key concrete measure to support active ageing is digital development, working together with the silver economy and SMEs, the rapporteur underlined. She called for more cross-border cooperation to allow for easier access to health care services also for the elderly.
She then went on to discuss the question of securing enough people working in the elderly care field in the future and pointed out the need to focus more on women and their role as informal carers.
The Committee of the Regions needs to show political leadership in promoting active and healthy ageing. The rapporteur hopes that the new Commissioner who will start their work later in the year will be keen to work on this area.
Sacrédeus' opinion calls for more EU funding dedicated to support active ageing via Horizon Europe and regional development funds, as well as for an EU-level center of competence for issues related to the elderly and informal carers, supporting also family members who are caring for older people.
During the debate, EPP-CoR member Sirpa Hertell (EPP/FI) shared a good practice from her city of Espoo, where inhabitants who are 68 or older can access sports services for free to remain more active. Manuel Pleguezuelo (EPP/ES) highlighted the strategy of the region of Murcia to support the silver economy: for example, the tourism industry is actively developing new adapted products for the elderly.
"Health is crucial to how we experience ageing. Age-friendly environments empowering people to lead independent and healthy lives are key to successful development", said Gerry McWeeney of WHO Europe, presenting the WHO global network of age-friendly cities and communities. The rapid growth of the ageing population is creating an economic burden on health systems and putting pressure on national economies. Local and regional authorities, together with their partners, can be agents for change, McWeeney concluded.
The opinion is scheduled for adoption at the October 2019 Plenary session of the CoR.