Methodological Approaches to Assessing the Quality of Life of Older People in Russia

The paper presents the core findings of a study on improving methodological approaches to adequate assessment of dynamics of the quality of life of older people in Russia. The author has identified challenges in implementing some international recommendations on the topic thereon. These challenges resulted from differences in the socio-economic development of the Russian Federation and its ethnocultural traditions. The article defines domestic information and statistical base for studying the quality of life of the population, in particular, the older population. The author describes a system of basic indicators that includes key measures of health status of older people, their financial security and economic activity. Based on the proposed approach and official statistics, the situation with the older generation in Russia in 2010–2020 is analyzed. An assessment is made of the significance of both positive trends in improving the quality of life in the older generation (increased life expectancy, improved health, increased economic activity of the population aged 60 years and older), as well as unresolved problems, primarily, relatively low level of pensions compared to the subsistence level and high degree of interregional differentiation of pensions. The paper concludes with proposals concerning directions and sequence of organizational and financial measures aimed at improving the quality of life of pensioners, proposed by the author, based on specific results of statistical analysis. Among the top priorities are: indexation of pensions for non-working pensioners ahead of the inflation rate, indexation of pensions for working pensioners at 1/2 of the inflation rate, registration and, if necessary, organization of medical and social services for older citizens living alone.