"The Silver Economy" in Europe and the Role of Social Innovation in Improving the Quality Of Life of Social Service Users Cover Image

"Сребърната икономика" в Европа и ролята на социалните иновации за подобряване качеството на живот на потребителите на социални услуги
"The Silver Economy" in Europe and the Role of Social Innovation in Improving the Quality Of Life of Social Service Users

Author(s): Tanya Vazova
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Social Sciences, Economy, Business Economy / Management, Civil Society, Sociology, Developing nations, Family and social welfare, Welfare services, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, Socio-Economic Research
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: silver economy; innovation; policies; aging population; adults
Summary/Abstract: The growing trend of an aging population in Europe highlights the challenges, innovations and new policies needed to improve the lives of older people. The development and use of the available labour potential of all people of working age is an important task to address demographic challenges. We need to prepare and adapt to reality by accepting people over 60+, and sometimes over 50+, as a resource important to society, not a burden. In the conditions of the modern changes two tendencies in relation to the aging population stand out: the opportunity to be useful both for themselves and for society in the new realities, taking into account their activity and "common sense"; the development of the "silver economy", which includes all economic activities related to production, health, social, educational and other services designed to meet the needs and improve the quality of life of older people. The impact of population aging is presented in this report; the concept of the "silver economy" is considered, including a wide range of activities that meet the needs of older people as consumers and presents good innovative practices developed and implemented in some EU member states.