International Day for Older Persons

This shift is due to a combination of low birth rates and rising life expectancy. Indeed Europeans today are living longer and healthier lives than ever before. Since 1960, life expectancy has risen by eight years, and demographic projections forecast a further five-year increase over the next forty years. Today, 1 October is International Day for Older Persons and this is a historic achievement that deserves to be celebrated.

The ageing of the population presents both challenges and opportunities. According to Eurostat's latest projections released in 2008, there would be only two people of working age (15-64) for every person aged over 65 in the European Union by 2060 compared to a ratio of four to one today. This may increase pressure on public budgets and pension systems, as well as on the social and care services for older people.

However, older people can make a significant contribution to society. But this requires preserving intergenerational solidarity and ensuring that the baby-boom cohorts stay longer in the labour market and remain healthy, active and autonomous as long as possible.

The European Commission has on September 6, 2010 proposed that 2012 be designated as the "European Year for Active Ageing".

Active ageing means creating better opportunities and working conditions to enable older workers to play their part in the labour market, combating social exclusion by fostering active participation in society, and encouraging healthy ageing.

One of the headline targets proposed by the Commission in “EUROPE 2020 A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth” is that 75 % of the population aged 20-64 should be employed. For people to be able to work longer they have to stay healthy.

Ageing starts long before retirement, and healthy ageing requires among others, safe and healthy working conditions. According to the European Working Conditions Survey, 35% of workers report that their work affects their health and according to the Pan-European opinion poll on occupational safety and health carried out by EU-OSHA in June 2009, 47% of people believe that ill health is caused by their job to some extent and 28%, a great deal.

Promoting healthy ageing means the improvement of working conditions for all, young and old, and on the other hand, encouraging older workers to stay in employment requires adaptation of the working conditions to the health status and needs of older workers.

We wish all older people enjoy their work as much as Barney McKenna enjoys playing his banjo and if already retired – that they enjoy a long, healthy and active life.