Tine Rostgaard, a lecturer in Citizenship and Elderly People in Denmark, introduces in this interview the concept of reablement and explains how work is being done in other countries to stimulate the elderly people’s independence.

Why is the number of elderly women who live alone continually increasing? The Social Observatory of ”la Caixa” studies the causes of this phenomenon, which has important implications in the design of welfare policies.

The house we live in is closely related with our quality of life and health, especially during old age. In turn, the quality of our home will depend on the municipality in which it is located. At this intersection, we tackle the question of whether it is better to grow old in a village or a city.

How do elderly people contribute to intergenerational care? In 2016, some 35% of elderly people in our country regularly took charge of caring for their grandchildren.

Over the course of the last decade, the number of elderly people who make use of new technologies has not ceased to grow. By 2017, some 28% were sending messages via electronic means.

To what point do elderly people participate in political activities? Some 6.5% of men and 4.3% of women aged between 65 and 74 years in our country participate actively in politics.

With what frequency do elderly people meet with their families? In our country, the minimum weekly frequency amply exceeds the European average for both sexes.

This indicator measures the level of independence in elderly people; this is based on variables such as occupation, social participation, independent living and the capacity for healthy ageing.

How many people aged over 65 years have difficulties in performing some of the basic activities of everyday life? In our country, 33% of people aged over 65 years have problems washing themselves independently.

By 2030, for every 100 people of working age there will be 40 who are economically dependent or at an inactive age. Will this proportion increase with time?