SLOVAKIA ranked 49 out of the 91 countries surveyed in the Global AgeWatch index, placing close to Bulgaria and Romania, lower than Slovenia and the Czech Republic, and higher than Poland, the report states.
Slovakia’s Global AgeWatch value, which shows how close the country is to the ideal value (100), is 51.2.
Last year, 18.3 percent of Slovakia’s population was aged 60 or higher, which put Slovakia in 46th place out of 195 countries. In 2050, the percentage is expected to rise to 34.9 percent, placing Slovakia 25th among the 195 ranked.
As for the quality of life of older people, Slovakia ranks highest of the four categories ranked in income security - 16th. Despite not having a social pension system (non-contributory cash transfers to older people, provided by government), it has good pension coverage and a low old age poverty rate; 7.1 percent, according to the report.
Slovakia ranked 53rd in the area of health, with people aged 60 expected to live for another 20 years, on average, and 15.2 years in good health.
In the enabling societies and environment category, Slovakia scored very low, 81st, with only 45 percent of people over 50 feeling safe enough to walk on their own at night, and only 40 percent of people over 50 satisfied with local public transportation systems. On the other hand, 83 percent of Slovakia’s citizens over 50 have relatives or friends they can count on when in trouble, according to the report.
In the employment and education section, Slovakia placed 36th. The report shows 40.6 percent of the population between 55 and 64 years of age are employed, and 73.2 percent of people aged 60 and up have secondary or higher education.
The Global AgeWatch Index is conducted by an elderly advocacy group, HelpAge International, and the UN Population Fund. It is a tool to make international comparisons of quality of life in older age, and to measure progress and aims to improve the impact of policy and practice on aging populations.
The Index brings together a set of internationally comparable data based on older people's income status, health status, education and employment, and enabling environment. These domains have been selected because they were identified by elderly people and policy makers alike as key enablers of the wellbeing of the elderly, according to the project’s website.
Source: www.helpage.org
Compiled by Michaela Terenzani from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information
presented in its Flash News postings.
