Elderly People in Regional Settings (Urban v Rural)

More than 22 percent of the population, or 1.7 million people living in Austria, are already over the age of 60. It is generally predicted that that number will rise to three million by the year 2050. Many people are concerned about this demographic trend, not only as regards the funding of the state pension system. In an everyday sense, ageing is often seen primarily as a decline in physical and mental abilities. Many older people also personally perceive old-age as mainly reducing their physical, mental and social possibilities.

The health promotion field views aging from a completely different perspective: People can age actively and healthily if they acquire new skills for living and health and build up the appropriate resources. These very same aspects are potential fields of action for health promotion organizations. Our objective must be to accompany people as they go through these changes in living and health conditions and to help them to develop the skills they need for this new phase of their life.

What factors influence healthy aging and what targeted measures best promote improvement in the overall health of older people? Fonds Gesundes Österreich addresses this important question in its information and public education efforts, in its model projects and in its promotion of practical and research projects.