Healthy Ageing - An Introduction
Inclusion, Contribution, Independence and Access
Healthy Ageing - Advantages of Access
Healthy Ageing - Who wants to grow old in Europe?

Healthy Ageing - An Introduction

Developed nations are facing increasing pressures over the sustainability of their social systems. Increased life expectancy and declining birth rates are combining to make the population older than ever before.

An ageing population translates into fewer workers supporting more retirees. Over the next decades, some European countries are looking at an aged dependency ratio – the number of persons 65+ years per 100 persons between 20 and 64 – as high as 55% to 75%. It is perhaps not an exaggeration to say that this demographic shift will necessitate a wholesale rethinking of how our social benefits systems are structured.

The United Nations confirms that the median age for all of Europe in 1950 was 29.5 years old. By 2000 it stood at 37.7 years, and is projected to reach 49.5 years by 2050. This means that in less than half a century’s time almost half of all Europeans will be over 50. That’s just 5 years younger than the lowest official retirement age in Europe. Put another way, in 2050, half of Europeans will be at or within five years of the lowest current retirement age if no changes are made to the system.

Never before has there been a society in which there are more adults over 80 than children under 20—which is exactly what could happen in Germany, Spain and Italy by mid-century.

As we can see, this demographic shift is truly unprecedented and has far-reaching implications.

The question we must all consider is what needs to be done:

1) to ensure that these additional years of life are enjoyed thoroughly
2) to establish a sustainable and equitable healthcare programme that benefits all citizens.

To be sure, we can expect more demands on the pension and healthcare systems. But increased longevity—thanks in large part to the benefits of modern technology and medicine—need not be perceived only as a challenge. Rather, we can begin to focus on the many advantages that adults who live longer add to society. In fact, it is our solemn responsibility to do so.

It is far easier to call for change than to make it happen, and that is why we at Pfizer have proposed to work with governments, patient advocacy groups, physician associations, insurance payers and the media to find viable solutions to this unprecedented population shift.

We call this “Healthy Ageing.”

Inclusion, Contribution, Independence and Access

In many ways, Healthy Ageing depends upon four key elements. Inclusion, Contribution, Independence and Access.

Inclusion is of utmost importance as we need to instil in our older generations a deep sense of belonging and the feeling that they are valued by society. Too often, ageing adults are made to feel that there is no longer a place for them. Society needs to explore incentive programmes and more flexible working situations to accommodate those who wish to work beyond the official retirement age. We can embrace the concept of life-long training, so that older adults can be kept up-to-speed as workplace technology advances. That way they can continue to contribute their knowledge and skills for as long as they choose to do so.

Inclusion almost naturally leads to contribution. The more healthy the adults who remain employed, the greater the productivity and GNP growth rates countries can achieve. By offering persons over 55 incentives to remain in the workplace, we encourage what we call the “Experience Exchange.” This enables older workers to share decades of accumulated knowledge with their younger counterparts.

Additionally, retired people who live at home, rather than in managed care facilities are more likely to take an active role in family and community affairs and volunteer programmes. Thus, instead of being confined in nursing homes, they are free to offer their service to others and to enrich the lives of their children and grandchildren. In these ways, society can greatly benefit from the presence and involvement of older generations.

Healthy people are independent people. By providing the elderly, disabled and chronically ill with access to innovative healthcare treatments, we can increasingly keep them in their own homes, minimising their dependence on hospital workers, healthcare providers and caregivers.

For example, one study has shown that when a person suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, the lives of three family members are disrupted. Whenever possible, therefore we must do what we can to ensure independence not only for the sake of the individual, but also to avoid emotional and physical stress, and financial burden on near and dear ones.

A critical factor for inclusion, contribution and independence is access to quality healthcare. This refers to access to the latest and most innovative medicines and to objective information outlining the available options. By maximising access to innovative medicines, countries can expect to realise enormous physical, social, emotional and economic benefits. Innovative medicines not only add years to life - but life to years.

Healthy Ageing - Advantages of Access

To fully understand the advantages of access, we must avoid the short-sighted trap of considering only the costs of medicines without examining their long-term health and financial benefits.

While coronary heart disease continues to be the main cause of death in the developing world, the introductions of new medicines and treatments are the number one cause for the decline in coronary-event rates from the mid 1980s to mid-90s.

A modest 1% reduction in the mortality rate from cancer is estimated to have an economic value of £330 billion. Relative to older medications, newer medications are more likely to keep people in the work place, out of the hospital and off the operating tables.

As well as access to medicines people have the basic right to information about which medications might save their lives. Furthermore, informed patients are generally more compliant patients and this leads to better health outcomes. By making people more aware of the options that are available, we give them an opportunity to become more involved in their own health. Information about medication can enrich the dialogue between doctor and patient, leading to the latter’s greater understanding of his or her own condition.

Studies have proven that an initial investment in preventative medicine decreases overall health costs substantially by reducing the number of patients who require hospital stays, surgical procedures and nursing-home care. For instance, the use of a blood-thinning medication that can prevent 40,000 strokes per year, can also save £370 million in healthcare costs.

In the light of the evidence supporting the health as well as the financial benefits of administering the latest medication to those who need it most, the only conscionable choice is to loosen the restrictions on access.

We also need to consider the importance of Europe retaining the leaders in pharmaceutical research and development. Private pharmaceutical research is responsible for discovering nine out of every ten treatments that save and improve lives.

Pfizer looks forward to playing an important role in Healthy Ageing, but we cannot do it alone. We must form partnerships with governments, insurance payers, physicians, patient groups and other interested parties, to maximise the advantages of preventative healthcare and to promote an ongoing dialogue. We hope that in increasing awareness and promoting co-operation, we can help governments set the agenda on what is clearly one of the most important issues of our time.

We believe that creating a society in which people are healthier, more productive and more aware of their options and the benefits that contemporary medicines can offer is a key ingredient to preparing healthcare systems for the unique demands of the twenty-first century. We look forward to working with all members of society towards building a healthcare model of the future.

Healthy Ageing - Who wants to grow old in Europe?

Patronised, isolated, undervalued!

European society still has a long way to go to catch up with the aspirations of its growing population of older citizens. Nearly two out of three people aged 55 or over feel undervalued by society and are increasingly isolated from their families; according to results of a Pfizer study on “Healthy Ageing”. Almost a third of respondents identified being patronised or perceived as a burden as the major things they would like to change about how society sees them.

The Healthy Ageing Survey was commissioned by Pfizer Inc and presented at the inaugural Pfizer Silver Summit in Rome, Italy. The research compares the lifestyles, attitudes, beliefs, concerns and major issues of over 2,500 people in and approaching “third age” (people aged 55+) across five European countries: UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

To request a copy of this survey please click on the link to request one

The survey shows that two thirds of older people do not believe that society values their skills and wisdom. This perception ranked highest in the UK, where 76 per cent of those polled said they felt undervalued. Yet almost three in 10 of the respondents across Europe are still doing paid or voluntary work outside the home and over half consider themselves more active than their parents at similar ages. Despite being increasingly active, health remains a worry, with almost a third of respondents feeling that better health is the one thing that would most improve the quality of their lives.

Anne-Sophie Parent, Director of Advocacy group AGE said, "Healthy ageing is not just about managing the diseases and frailties associated with growing old. It's about playing a full and active part in society. We are glad to see that a pharmaceutical company like Pfizer is taking a proactive role in raising awareness on these issues. We hope the results of this survey will encourage debate around policies that ensure older people feel valued and included. The initiative proposed by Pfizer is interesting and takes us in the right direction, but a great deal of research and campaigning is still needed to change the view of the European society, industry and EU policy makers regarding older people in Europe."

Jack Watters, Pfizer’s European Medical Vice President comments, “The aim of the ‘Healthy Ageing’ survey and the ‘Silver Summit’ is to stimulate debate around the idea that ageing can and should be a positive experience. Given the right opportunities and choices, people in this stage of life can live a healthy, active, happy life where they feel recognised for their contribution to their families, society and the workplace.”