Healthy Aging in Europe in the 1990s and Implications for Education and Training in the Care of the Elderly

The number of elderly persons is increasing, and the elderly are becoming a much more important population group, but the knowledge of normal and pathological aging and care of the elderly are still insufficient among professionals, decision makers, and the general public. The emphasis of policy and strategy for aging and the care of the elderly is on prevention of ill health and promotion of good health. The role of caring is of great importance: Models of affordable and accessible care have to be developed in all countries. There needs to be a balance between home care and institutional care. Education and training in the care of the elderly play a key role in reaching this objective. Once the lay public gets the basic information about aging and the role the elderly could play in contributing to societal developmental processes, their attitudes toward the elderly are likely to change. They will see the elderly not just as consumers, but as contributors as well. This will have a positive effect on policy making, particularly in the area of distribution of resources. In addition, professionals in all areas need to view aging and the elderly in a different way: The elderly have the same right to participate in society and the same right to affordable and good quality services, if needed, as other age groups. Care of the elderly should be incorporated into teaching programs for all categories of personnel, both undergraduate and postgraduate. The World Health Organization's Regional Office for Europe is currently getting requests for assistance in education and training in aging and the care of the elderly from countries making the transition from central to market economies. These countries are becoming aware of the difficult situation of their elderly and are seeking models of good and repeatable practice to provide them with better care. The time is right for a major international activity in education and training in the care of the elderly to enable the transfer of knowledge and experience.