A JRC science for policy brief underscores the importance of understanding ageing from various perspectives to frame the growing concern about ageing in the EU as a positive transition A JRC science for policy brief underscores the importance of understanding ageing from various perspectives to frame the growing concern about ageing in the EU as a positive transition towards a society of longevity.

A JRC science for policy brief discusses the concept of ageing and its implications on various aspects of society. It emphasizes that old age is a relative concept, which has been defined differently depending on historical periods, countries and policy angles. 

The brief explores several indicators of ageing, including maximum lifespan, median life expectancy, health-adjusted support ratio and economic support ratio. It looks at age from biological, demographic, health, economic and socio-cultural perspectives.

The study points out that the old-age dependency ratio (OADR), the most commonly used indicator of population ageing, is based on the assumption that old age starts at a fixed threshold of 65 years when most people retire. 

This indicator only captures the age dimension and is used uniformly across all countries. It lacks the relative and multidimensional perspectives on ageing, including the health dimension, which are central to the transition towards a society of longevity.

A comparison with the health-adjusted dependency ratio (HADR), which considers also the health dimension, shows that accounting for the health of the adult population produces a very different picture of the ageing burden compared with a burden solely based on age.

Countries with similar old-age dependency ratios, i.e. with a similar ratio between the older population and the working-age population, may have very different health-adjusted dependency ratios, reflecting the health situation of their respective populations.

For instance, Italy and France have relatively low health-adjusted dependency ratios despite having relatively high old-age dependency ratios. This can be explained by better ageing-related health in these countries. The burden caused by ageing may therefore not be as dramatic in all countries as it would appear when considering a purely demographic perspective based on the universal 65 age limit.

The study highlights the importance of considering ageing along multiple perspectives. It suggests that a more holistic view of ageing and adapting the boundaries between working age and old age – e.g redefining old age itself - to the evolving socio-cultural and demographic contexts can help frame the rising concerns around ageing in the EU as a positive transition towards a society of longevity.