11.10.12
Preventive care needed to promote healthy ageing
Policymakers must concentrate on preventive care to promote healthy ageing and manage the costs of increased care, a new report suggests.
‘Preventive care and health ageing: a global perspective’, has been produced by the Economist Intelligence Unit to highlight effective measures implemented across the world.
Sponsored by Pfizer, the research shows that by 2050, nearly 2 billion people will be aged 60 and over, leading to the costs of long-term chronic conditions increasing. Age-related diseases are affecting older adults for longer and most healthcare systems have been focused on treating acute illness.
The report recommends that governments must implement cost-effective initiatives more broadly to promote healthy ageing, such as immunisation, telehealth and telecare.
Editor of the report, Katherine Dorr Abreu, said: “Healthy ageing begins with healthy living. Policymakers should consider measures that help ageing individuals remain active, contributing members of society. Studies show that preventive measures can have a fourfold return on investment.”
The report is at: http://digitalresearch.eiu.com/healthyageing/report
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