The canton of Geneva will organize a demographic transition conference next spring. This event will bring together institutional, academic, associative partners and seniors from all backgrounds, the Department of Social Cohesion (DCS) said on Tuesday.
The canton also presented, on Tuesday, the results of its first survey launched online last April. What comes out of it? Thierry Apothéloz, State Councilor responsible for social cohesion.
Seniors are satisfied with their quality of life but concerned about health, money and access to services. Of the 92,000 people targeted, more than 4,600 responded. A sufficient number to be representative?
60% of those questioned indicate that they have regular social activities, 1 in 4 seniors receive daily help from those around them and 20% also declare themselves to be caregivers.
What will the results of this survey be used for?
Foundations of the demographic transition
“Collectively building the policy for tomorrow’s seniors means giving a voice to all those concerned in an open dialogue, to meet the challenges of the demographic transition with solidarity and ambition,” notes Geneva State Councilor Thierry Apothéloz, cited in the DCS press release.
Elderly people will participate in these meetings. They will be able to express their points of view on priority themes for future seniors policy, whether it concerns “health, prevention, precariousness, citizen participation or integration”.
According to the Cantonal Statistics Office (Ocstat), the share of people aged 65 and over represented 16.5% of the total Geneva population in 2020. The proportion of seniors will increase significantly over the coming decades in Geneva, with a share estimated between 22.7% and 24.6% of the total population in 2050.
Laurie Selli with ATS source
