8 European cities with best ideas for seniors: ESPON report

The aging of European societies means that city authorities across the continent are increasingly focusing on the needs of the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to loneliness and exclusion. Experts from the European Observation Network for Territorial Development and Cohesion (ESPON) and the European Commission have selected eight metropolises that are examples of how to effectively deal with demographic challenges.

The process of aging of Europe's societies does not bypass cities and metropolitan areas. In recent years, the number of their inhabitants over 65 has increased by 24 percent, and in some of them, this ratio has exceeded 50 percent. This trend presents cities with new challenges. 

“It is not only about increasing expenditure on health care or modernizing urban infrastructure, but also about dignity. Seniors cannot feel isolated from the general public,” the authors of the report entitled The aging revolution: towards a European Silver Deal? argued.

The ESPON report contains a series of data pointing to the exclusion (economic, digital, social) of older people: over a third of all seniors in Europe are unable to meet unforeseen expenses. 40 percent of them never used a computer.

"Loneliness is also a problem – it is felt by 37 percent of Dutch and 40 percent of Britons over 65. The coronavirus pandemic has further worsened these statistics,” experts emphasized.

The ESPON report lists eight European cities where proprietary projects are implemented to activate seniors. These are Zaragoza and Barcelona (Spain), Oslo (Norway), Gothenburg (Sweden), Nantes (France), Manchester (UK), and Hengelo and Amsterdam (Netherlands).

(PAP)