[EQ] Policies for Healthy Ageing: an Overview

POLICIES FOR HEALTHY AGEING: AN OVERVIEW

 

Howard Oxley

Health Working Papers - OECD HEALTH WORKING PAPERS NO. 42

DIRECTORATE FOR EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS

HEALTH COMMITTEE

OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 16-Feb-2009

 

Available online PDF [32p.] at: http://www.olis.oecd.org/olis/2009doc.nsf/ENGDATCORPLOOK/NT00000BDE/$FILE/JT03259727.PDF

 

“…….This paper reviews policies in the area of healthy ageing. With the ageing of OECD countries’ population over coming decades, maintaining health in old age will become increasingly important. Successful policies in this area can increase the potential labour force and the supply of non-market services to others. They can also delay the need for longer-term care for the elderly.

 

A first section briefly defines what is meant by healthy ageing and discusses similar concepts – such as “active ageing”. The paper then groups policies into four different types and within each, it describes the range of individual types of programmes that can be brought to bear to enhance improved health of the elderly. A key policy issue in this area concerns whether such programmes have a positive effect on health outcomes and whether they are cost effective…..”

 

Content:

 

SUMMARY

1. INTRODUCTION

2. DEFINING “HEALTHY AGEING”

3. WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF HEALTHY AGEING POLICIES?

3.1 Improved integration in the economy and into society

3.2 Better lifestyles

3.3 Adapting health systems to the needs of the elderly

3.4 Attacking underlying social and environmental factors affecting healthy ageing

4. ASSESSING WHETHER POLICIES/PROGRAMMES ARE (COST) EFFECTIVE

4.1 Cost-efficiency and cost-benefit analysis

4.2 Economic and social integration

4.2.1 Longer working lives

4.2.2 Increasing social capital

4.3 Encouraging more healthy lifestyles

4.3.1 Maintaining physical activity

4.3.2 Healthy eating and appropriate nutrition

4.3.3 Substance use, abuse and misuse

4.4 Adapting health systems to the needs of the elderly

4.4.1 Better co-ordination of care within the health-care systems

4.4.2 More attention to cost-effective prevention

4.4.3 Problems with pharmaceutical drug use among the elderly

4.4.4 Reducing injury among the elderly

4.4.5 A growing role for home visits?

4.4.6 Improving health literacy

4.4.7 Influencing social and environmental factors affecting healthy ageing

5. CONCLUDING ASSESSMENT

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

 

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