ICT FOR AGEING: A SOCIAL NECESSITY AND AN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

Europe's population is ageing: average life expectancy has increased from 55 in 1920 to over 80 today. With the retiring baby boom generation the number of people aged from 65 to 80 will rise by nearly 40% between 2010 and 2030. This demographic change poses significant challenges to Europe's society and economy. Information and communication technologies (ICT) can play an important role in dealing with these challenges. ICT can help the older individuals to improve quality of life, stay healthier and live independently for longer. Innovative solutions are emerging to help counteract problems related to memory, vision, hearing, and mobility, which are more prevalent with age. ICT also enables older persons to remain active at work or in their community. Their accumulated experience and skills is a great asset, especially in the knowledge society. The demand for health and social services will grow with the increase of the number of very old and frail people (the group of over 80 year olds will almost double by 2050), while the financial sustainability of such services is already of great concern. ICT enables more efficient management and delivery of health and social care, as well as increasing opportunities for community- and self-care and service innovation. Significant benefits can be reaped for the economy and society at large. Although the older population has a large buying power and ageing is becoming a global phenomenon, the market of ICT for ageing well in the information society is still on its nascent phase and does not yet fully ensure the availability and take-up of the necessary ICT-enabled solutions. The reasons include low awareness of the opportunities and user needs and insufficient sharing of experiences, fragmentation of reimbursement and certification schemes, lack of interoperability, and high costs of development and validation. Therefore, the Commission has decided to launch an action plan on ageing well in the information society, presented in this Communication, and as announced in i2010. The action plan has not only the objectives of enabling a better quality of life for older people with significant cost-savings in health and social care, but also aims to help creating a strong industrial basis in Europe for ICT and ageing. The action plan represents a first response of the European Commission to the 2006 Riga Ministerial Declaration on e‑Inclusion and supports EU policy in the areas of growth and competitiveness in the revised Lisbon agenda, demographic change, employment, health, and equal opportunities The Commission will also propose support to a new research programme of European countries on “Ageing well in the Information Society” under Article 169 of the Treaty. This action plan is designed to create political and industrial momentum for a significant effort in developing and deploying user-friendly ICT tools and services, mainstreaming older users' needs and supporting other policy areas in addressing the challenges of ageing. In particular this action plan supports the Commission Action plan 2003-2010 for people with disabilities The action plan addresses market barriers for ICT services and tools and seeks to realise the opportunities particularly for the older people of today and tomorrow, by raising awareness, building common strategies, removing technical and regulatory hurdles, and promoting take-up, joint research and innovation. It coordinates existing efforts, adding a number of new actions to integrate, complement and reinforce existing work. Three areas of user needs are to be addressed: Ageing well at work or ‘active ageing at work’: staying active and productive for longer, with better quality of work and work-life balance with the help of easy-to-access ICT, innovative practices for adaptable, flexible workplaces, ICT skills and competencies and ICT enhanced learning (resp. e-skills and e-learning). Ageing well in the community : staying socially active and creative, through ICT solutions for social networking, as well as access to public and commercial services, thus improving quality of life [1] and reducing social isolation (one of the main problems of older people in rural, scarcely populated areas, as well as urban areas with limited family support). Ageing well at home : enjoying a healthier and higher quality of daily life for longer, assisted by technology, while maintaining a high degree of independence, autonomy and dignity. Europe’s ICT industry (including SMEs), health and social care providers can establish many of the components for delivery of services aimed at ageing customers. Private-public partnerships can engage in large-scale validation of user acceptance and cost-effectiveness of novel solutions. If Europe responds to the challenges in time and overcomes technical, regulatory and behavioural barriers, ICT for ageing well can become a driver for jobs and growth and a successful lead market for Europe. ICT for ageing well: a social necessity and an economic opportunity The information society can enable older people – when and where they wish to do so – to participate fully in society and the economy, and to be active as empowered citizens; and at the same time generate benefits for businesses and for economy and society at large. The action plan on ageing well in the information society sets out to accelerate the delivery of benefits to citizens, companies, and authorities in Europe: for citizens –a better quality of life and better health through prolonged independent living, active ageing at work ensuring that older workers can regularly update their competencies, and increased social participation; for companies – increased market size and market opportunities in the internal market for ICT and ageing in Europe, better skilled and productive workforce and a stronger position in the growing markets worldwide; for authorities – cost-reductions, increased efficiencies and better overall quality in health and social care systems. The action plan is structured around four areas: (1)                raising awareness and establishing consensus and common strategies, (2)                putting enabling conditions in place, (3)                accelerating take-up of and investment in validated solutions, (4)                coordinating efforts in preparing for the future through research and innovation.

Information and communication technologies

The action plan on ageing well in the information society identifies priority areas and actions where ICT can best contribute to address the challenges and opportunities of the ageing of Europe's population. It addresses the main barriers in terms of market readiness, the adequacy and affordability of products and services, and the sustainability of service delivery and business models. The action plan builds on enhanced cooperation among all stakeholders and aims to unlock the promising potential of ICT and ageing in Europe, and beyond. The Commission calls upon all stakeholders in civil society, authorities and businesses to act in partnership to achieve the objectives for ageing well in the information society. Member States are invited to actively support and implement the actions. The European Parliament is invited to support strengthening the rights and opportunities of older people in the information society, in the context of legislative frameworks and EU programmes, and to thus enable the full participation of all in Europe's economy and society.