Completed
Quality of life for the elderly in the Nordic region
Older adults
We are living longer and longer, and the proportion of elderly people in the Nordic region is on the increase. This project aimed to find out how we can create a stimulating and meaningful existence even in the later years.
Our work with improving quality of life for the elderly continues with our new project Active and healthy ageing in the Nordic region.
It is valuable for society that more people are living for longer, but it also brings major challenges. These involve social systems, as well as healthcare, welfare, housing and transport. The answer is to create communities which are good to age in; where we can still experience quality of life in the later years.
Results
Many municipalities in the Nordic region are working ambitiously to create a better environment to age in. In this publication, we have investigated in greater depth the Nordic cities that have chosen to connect to the WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities.
The publication has also been published in Swedish:
Age-friendly municipalities
The project focused on the factors that are often mentioned when people talk about quality of life for the elderly – opportunities for physical exercise, good eating habits, social interaction and being needed. We examined how a number of municipalities in the Nordic region are working with these issues and how older people themselves are involved and have an influence.
We have chosen eleven Nordic cities that are in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities. These are Oslo, Trondheim, Esbjerg, Göteborg, Uppsala, Halstahammar, Stockholm, Gävle, Östersund, Tampere and Reykjavík. These age-friendly cities work on the basis of these themes for active and healthy ageing.
- Outdoor environments and buildings
- Transport
- Housing
- Social participation
- Respect and social inclusion
- Civic participation and voluntary activities
We also include Aarhus, which is not part of the WHO network, but which is working extensively, in collaboration with various actors, to create social interaction and counteract loneliness in all age groups.
Reports
Older adults
15 Mar 2018
A better environment to age in
In the Nordic region, life expectancy is increasing, and the elderly population is growing. It is of course a positive development [...]
Welfare policy
10 Mar 2017
Bra lösningar fungerar för alla – om universell design och välfärdsteknologi
Denne publikation undersøger sammenhæng og synergi mellem to vigtige områder som Nordens velfærdscenter har arbejdet med igenn [...]
Welfare policy
21 Jun 2017
“Välfärdsteknik handlar inte om teknik utan om människor” – tekniksprång i nordisk demensvård
I dag beräknas cirka 418 000 människor i Norden vara demenssjuka. Antalet väntas öka i samtliga nordiska länder. Välfärdste [...]
Older adults
15 Jan 2019
Skapa åldersvänliga städer i Norden
Vi lever allt längre i Norden och andelen äldre i befolkningen ökar. Det är en positiv utveckling, men innebär samtidigt stor [...]