Abstract

The population aging in Europe imposes challenges to societies that require adaptations and responses at various levels to minimize impacts and figuring out opportunities. Portugal has been committed to the World Health Organization and European Union's values and policy frameworks concerning active and healthy aging. In 2017, an inter-ministerial working group developed the National Strategy for Active and Healthy Aging. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic that exposed the vulnerabilities of older populations, the launch of the Decade of Healthy Aging 2021–2030 and its baseline report and the 2018 Active Aging Index Analytical Report may constitute an opportunity to strategically think about the aging of the population as a national purpose in Portugal and in the other European countries that face similar challenges.

Highlights

  • Life expectancy at birth has increased by about 10 years over the last five decades in Europe [1]

  • Portugal is the 4th country in the 28 European Union (EU) with the highest percentage of older people, behind Italy, the most aged country in EU, Germany and Greece [2, 3]

  • Active aging was first defined by World Health Organization (WHO) as optimizing health, participation, and safety opportunities to improve quality of life as people age

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Summary

Frontiers in Public Health

Other European Countries: Time to Rethink Strategies and Foster Action. The population aging in Europe imposes challenges to societies that require adaptations and responses at various levels to minimize impacts and figuring out opportunities. Portugal has been committed to the World Health Organization and European Union’s values and policy frameworks concerning active and healthy aging. In 2017, an inter-ministerial working group developed the National Strategy for Active and Healthy Aging. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic that exposed the vulnerabilities of older populations, the launch of the Decade of Healthy Aging 2021–2030 and its baseline report and the 2018 Active Aging Index Analytical Report may constitute an opportunity to strategically think about the aging of the population as a national purpose in Portugal and in the other European countries that face similar challenges

INTRODUCTION
Active and Healthy Aging
Active Aging Index
Portuguese Aging Policies Alignment With WHO and EU
Global active aging
CONCLUSIONS
Findings
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

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