Active ageing policies in the Czech Republic and Poland

Abstract

This article deals with active ageing as a policy concept and its meanings in different cultures. We describe the Czech Republic and Poland, formerly communist states that experienced economic and political transitions in the 1990s and joined the European Union in 2004. Both countries are demographically similar, with ageing populations, but their understanding of active ageing as a policy issue are quite different. The methodology used was a meta‐analysis of expert interviews and consultations. The results show that there is no comprehensive policy towards active ageing in Poland and the Czech Republic does not have an overall systemic vision based on the principles of active ageing. The debate on activity in old age focuses on labour market employment activity, neglecting most of the issues of social services, care‐giving or just plain leisure. The lack of institutional mechanisms, fiscal limitations, discriminatory socio‐cultural perceptions and an unfavourable economic climate have all constituted barriers to implementing active ageing strategies in the period analysed. However, it seems that the problem has been noticed and that demographic changes and the attitudes of the elderly in the future could bring forth a more wide‐ranging discussion on active ageing.