How to save on pensioners
Sergey Dzhanyan, Radio LibertyThe aging of the population is a global problem for the countries of the European continent.
However, in Denmark, unlike its European neighbors, they decided not to pin their hopes only on young people. Increasing the activity of senior citizens has been made a national priority here.
Denmark is the country where the elderly are treated best, sociologists say. When asked whether the elderly burden society, only one out of ten Danes surveyed answers in the affirmative. And there is an explanation for this: anticipating an increase in the share of elderly people in the total population, the Danish authorities are pursuing a social policy that puts them at the center of Danish society. Leaving the labor market does not mean turning off from the social sphere – Danish pensioners have ample opportunities to do what interests them and lead an active lifestyle.
The position of the authorities in relation to elderly Danes is based on the fact that they bear the greatest possible responsibility for their lives, and, therefore, retain the right to make decisions not only of a personal nature, but also at the level of what is happening in the district where they live. One of the manifestations of this policy is the creation of so-called "councils of the elderly" in each Danish municipality. Such advisory councils are elected by general direct vote and have the right to consider all decisions concerning pensioners, including the relocation of elderly people in need of care to nursing homes.
Today in Denmark, with its population of 5.5 million people, there are 890 thousand men and women over 65 years old. Approximately 200 thousand of them receive assistance from the municipal authorities in household management, and up to 90 thousand Danes live in nursing homes and centers for the elderly.
– Housing estates designed specifically for older people are being built more and more often in Denmark – in such houses, for example, there are no steep stairs and high steps; and they are equipped with everything necessary so that a person can call for help at any moment. In addition, some nursing homes have been transformed into complexes with separate apartments and are now called "centers for the elderly". Our Tingager complex, built in 1976 and designed for 58 seats, belongs to this kind of establishments. Such centers for the elderly should guarantee the psychological comfort of their inhabitants and at the same time provide acceptable conditions for the work of service personnel," says Liz Waren, director of the Danish Tingager center.
Elderly Danes consider their right to a decent old age in nursing homes absolutely natural – they have been paying taxes regularly all their lives and now it's time for the state to take care of them. However, from an economic point of view, taking care of the elderly is very, very expensive. Annual payments for social support in old age amount to 176 billion kronor, or $ 35 billion – this is about one tenth of the country's gross national income. The costs of treating elderly patients account for more than half of all health care costs.
It is not surprising that a lot of effort is being made in Denmark to make pensioners as autonomous as possible – in order to delay the date of their transition to state custody. The Danish authorities see one of the solutions to this problem in the development of a special wellness policy for the elderly.
– It is indisputable that the maintenance of healthy pensioners is much cheaper for the state. Therefore, the municipal authorities offer elderly people free aerobics classes specially designed for them, as well as organize collective walking tours.
Caring for the elderly in Denmark is a national priority
In addition, special circles have been created in which participants are invited to share their childhood memories. What's the point of that? Very simple: stimulating mental activity improves the overall health of the elderly, – says the head of the health committee of the commune of Midtfun Kirsten Dahl.
Occupying a privileged position in society, Danish pensioners can count on the support of the association Ældre Sagen, fighting for the protection of the interests of the elderly. The Association, established in 1986, currently has 565,000 members and is one of the most influential public organizations in Denmark.
– We have become active participants in public life, just like Danish political parties or trade unions. For example, when I called the Minister of Health on the phone ten years ago, he made an appointment for me in a month. And today the government itself is asking our opinion on certain issues," says Bjarne Hastrup, chairman of the Danish association Ældre Sagen.
New times are also shaping a new mentality – the attitude towards the elderly in Danish society is undergoing revolutionary changes. And already today, in a country that was one of the first in the world to set age restrictions on the labor market, there is a debate about the abolition of the very concept of "retirement age".
– The age limit is the worst enemy of the elderly. This is a psychological wall that forces people to give up and slowly degrade when the end of their work activity comes. However, life expectancy is increasing, and nowadays the concept of retirement age at 60 or 65 is becoming irrelevant. In the future, more and more elderly people will want to work longer, or begin professional retraining after the age of 60. Our mentality and the Labor Code will have to adapt to these inevitable changes," says Henning Kirk, a Danish gerontologist and specialist in social problems of the elderly.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru22.10.2010