VULNERABILITIES OF THE VULNERABILITIES OF THE ELDERLY POPULATION IN POLAND. ELDERLY POPULATION IN POLAND.

CHANGES OF THE CHANGES OF THE NEEDS OF AN AGEING SOCIETYNEEDS OF AN AGEING SOCIETY. .

Alina PotrykowskaAlina Potrykowska

Institute of Geography and Spatial OrganizationInstitute of Geography and Spatial Organization

Polish Academy of SciencesPolish Academy of Sciences

00-818 Warsaw, Twarda 51/55, Poland00-818 Warsaw, Twarda 51/55, Poland

E-mail: a.potryk@twarda.pan.plE-mail: a.potryk@twarda.pan.pl

Demographic change and ageing Demographic change and ageing processes in Polandprocesses in Poland

Poland shows an ageing of the population as a result Poland shows an ageing of the population as a result of the increased longevity accompanied by decreased of the increased longevity accompanied by decreased

fertility.fertility. Ageing process is significant and will be acceleratingAgeing process is significant and will be accelerating in the coming decades.in the coming decades. Emergent consequences of that process, both Emergent consequences of that process, both social and economic evoke not only growing demand social and economic evoke not only growing demand for social and health cares,and education, but theyfor social and health cares,and education, but they also give older persons new position in family life and also give older persons new position in family life and

broader social structures.broader social structures.

Evolution of population in PolandEvolution of population in Poland

Population Dynamics, Poland 1950-2005

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

19501960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005

19

50

=1

00 Ludność

ogółem Totalpopulation

Ludność wstarszymwieku Elderlypopulation

Population structure by sex, Poland, Population structure by sex, Poland, 1950-2005 (1950=100) 1950-2005 (1950=100)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005

Mężczyźni ogółem Total population,Males

Mężczyźni wstarszym wiekuElderly population,Males

Kobiety ogółem Total population,Females

Kobiety w starszymwieku Elderlypopulation, Females

Population evolution by urban-rural status, Population evolution by urban-rural status, Poland, 1950-2005 (1950=100)Poland, 1950-2005 (1950=100)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005

Ludność w miastachogółem Urbanpopulation

Ludność starsza wmiastach Urbanelderly population

Ludność na wsiogółem Ruralpopulation

Ludność starsza nawsi Rural elderlypopulation

Special Survey „Polish Old AgeSpecial Survey „Polish Old Age””

Survey „ Polish Old Age” was realized Survey „ Polish Old Age” was realized

by the Polish Society of Gerontologyby the Polish Society of Gerontology

in 2000. The survey has confirmed in 2000. The survey has confirmed

that health, economic and social that health, economic and social

positions of elderly people are positions of elderly people are

differentiated according to division differentiated according to division

into urban and rural areas.into urban and rural areas.

ELDERLY POPULATION IN POLAND , 2004 (NUTS 4, 3, 2)

KOBIETY

KOBIETY

MĘŻCZYŹN I

MĘŻCZYŹN I

MIASTA

WIEŚ

2003

2003

2004

2004

85i w ięcej

85i w ięcej

80-84

80-84

75-79

75-79

70-74

70-74

65-69

65-69

60-64

60-64

55-59

55-59

50-54

50-54

45-49

45-49

40-44

40-44

35-39

35-39

30-34

30-34

25-29

25-29

25-29

25-29

15-19

15-19

10-14

10-14

5-9

5-9

0-4

0-4

Elderly population in Poland will almostElderly population in Poland will almost

have doubled in 2050 have doubled in 2050(from16.6% in 2000 to 35.6% in 2050)(from16.6% in 2000 to 35.6% in 2050)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2000

2005

2010

2015

2020

2025

2030

% lu

dn

oś

ci w

wie

ku

po

pro

du

kc

yjn

ym

Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

po

pu

lati

on

at

po

st-

wo

rkin

g a

ge

ogółem total

mężczyźni males

kobiety females

Old age dependency ratios and the inheritance index. Poland 2000-2050. (UN Projection, the most probable scenario)  Year Population Population Old-age dependency Inheritance index aged 60+ aged 65+ ratio

(%) (%) Value 2000=100 Value 2000=100 

 

2000 16.6 12.1 17.6 100 36.8 100 2010 18.8 13.0 18.0 102 36.8 100 2020 24.8 17.6 26.0 148 40.3 110 2030 27.2 21.4 33.3 189 39.5 107 2040 31.3 23.3 37.3 212 49.2 134 2050 35.6 27.9 50.0 281 64.5 175 ________________________________________________________

Old and child dependency ratios,Poland,Old and child dependency ratios,Poland, 1950-20051950-2005,,

Implications of the demographic changeImplications of the demographic change

The projected considerable increase inThe projected considerable increase in the percentage of old people will the percentage of old people will

dramatically affect the demographic dramatically affect the demographic dependency ratio over the 50-year horizon.dependency ratio over the 50-year horizon.

The threefold increase of this ratio is a The threefold increase of this ratio is a significant indication that the future will significant indication that the future will

see the problem of intergenerational equity.see the problem of intergenerational equity.

Special Survey „Facing Old Age”Special Survey „Facing Old Age”

„„Facing Old Age” is a sub-project ofFacing Old Age” is a sub-project of the INTERREG III C Programme realized the INTERREG III C Programme realized between the partner regions – the Silesianbetween the partner regions – the Silesian Voivodship , the federal state North Rhine-Voivodship , the federal state North Rhine- Westphalia and Nord-Pas de Calais. Westphalia and Nord-Pas de Calais. The project was led by the Regional Centre The project was led by the Regional Centre of Social Policy of Silesian Voivodship andof Social Policy of Silesian Voivodship and its partners: in Germany – Arbeiterwohlfahrtits partners: in Germany – Arbeiterwohlfahrt Unterbezirk Dortmund; in France – InstitutUnterbezirk Dortmund; in France – Institut Regional du Travail Social du Nord-Pas deRegional du Travail Social du Nord-Pas de Calais.Calais.

Conditions and needs of the ageing Polish societyConditions and needs of the ageing Polish society

- a shortage of forms of care, both in terms of - a shortage of forms of care, both in terms of services provided in places of residence and services provided in places of residence and

in establishments like hospitals, senior’s in establishments like hospitals, senior’s houses and within palliative care,houses and within palliative care,

- the need for professionalism of social workers - the need for professionalism of social workers and their insufficient number considering and their insufficient number considering

current and future needs,current and future needs,

- education is becoming an indispensable condition for - education is becoming an indispensable condition for intergenerational integration because the existent intergenerational integration because the existent

discrepancies between old and young people’s discrepancies between old and young people’s level of education often create a barrier that isolates level of education often create a barrier that isolates

seniors from their children and grandchildrenseniors from their children and grandchildren

Recommendations of the Government Recommendations of the Government Population Council in PolandPopulation Council in Poland

- improving health protection and access to medical - improving health protection and access to medical services as well as creating a system of supportservices as well as creating a system of support

in organizing independent life of the elderlyin organizing independent life of the elderly

- ensuring conditions for maintaining economic- ensuring conditions for maintaining economicindependence of the elderly personsindependence of the elderly persons

- creating a system which will favor adjustments of - creating a system which will favor adjustments of living conditions to senior’s financial possibilities living conditions to senior’s financial possibilities

and needsand needs

- maintaining social activity of the elderly through - maintaining social activity of the elderly through lifelong education, health education and voluntary lifelong education, health education and voluntary

workwork

- promoting positive attitudes towards old age and - promoting positive attitudes towards old age and the elderly; acting towards inter- and intra- the elderly; acting towards inter- and intra-

generational integration,generational integration,

- creating a system of preparation for old age in - creating a system of preparation for old age in terms of economic well-being, health, education, terms of economic well-being, health, education,

and keeping active,and keeping active,

- leading a coherent elderly-oriented old age policy- leading a coherent elderly-oriented old age policy