UN begins to tackle Europe's ageing problem

As Europe's population ages, the UN has suggested strategies in the areas of health and living environments of older persons for European countries to help them take better care of their elderly.

As Europe's population ages, the UN has suggested strategies in the areas of health and living environments of older persons for European countries to help them take better care of their elderly.

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"While working age adults currently make up the largest share of the population in the UNECE region and percentages of dependent children and older adults are relatively small, this situation is changing rapidly," according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

"In Europe, there are now 4.4 persons of working age per one person 65 or older. By 2025, there will be 3.1 and by 2050 only 2.1." added the UNECE, which is launching a series of Policy Briefs on Ageing that highlights strategies for policymakers and offer good practice examples for the variety of policy contexts found in the UNECE region.

The policy brief include the French Plan that tackles ageing and its consequences from different angles simultaneously, suggesting strategies in the areas of prevention, health and living environments of older persons, including infrastructure, technical aids and urban development.