healthy and active ageing - EuroHealthNet's Healthy Ageing Website

EUROCITIES
EUROCITIES is a network that brings together local governments of major European cities in 30 countries.
The network allows local governments to coordinate efforts and activities and to exchange knowledge on
relevant topics. EUROCITIES also provides a channel for cities to influence the EU agenda to accommodate
local level challenges and issues. Although not explicitly mentioned, the ageing aspect is interlinked with
many of EUROCITIES overall objectives, such as to; “promote equal opportunities for all, respecting
diversity”; to “promote access for all to high quality services”; and to “ensure Information and ‘Knowledge
Society’ rights for all EUROCITIES has a working group on healthy ageing.
More information is available at:
http://www.eurocities.eu/main.php
Taking a holistic approach to health means focusing not only on physical health, but also on mental
health, since these are inextricably linked; good physical health is associated with good mental health,
and poor physical health is associated with poor mental health. The EU Thematic conference on
mental health of older people in Madrid in 2010 (see Box 9) concluded that mental health promotion
measures are important for improving physical health and successful ageing, and that the prevention of
loneliness and isolation is one of the most powerful strategies to promote mental health and well-being
in old age. 14 A healthy lifestyle, safe living environment and meaningful, active participation in society
and the community are important protective factors for mental well-being in older age. In addition,
support from families, peers and carers play a key role in promoting the mental health of older people.
While serious depression seems to be a relatively rare disease among older people, symptoms of
depression appear common among older people, with studies indicating a prevalence of depressive
symptoms affecting 7.9 – 26.9% of older people. 15 In the UK for example, depression is the most common
mental health problem in later life. One in four people aged 65 and over have depression which is severe
enough to impair quality of life. 16 Many symptoms of depression can be addressed by ensuring that older
persons remain physically and socially active and participate in society.
Box 9
Key resource
“Mental health and Well-being in Older people”
High-level conference held in Madrid in April 2010, organised by European Commission and the Spanish
Ministry of Health and Social Affairs.
To learn more about the conference, see;
• Background document and key messages for the EU thematic conference:
http://ec.europa.eu/health/mental_health/docs/older_background.pdf
• Report from the conference:
http://ec.europa.eu/health/mental_health/docs/ev_20100628_report__en.pdf
• Conclusions from the conference:
http://ec.europa.eu/health/mental_health/docs/ev_20100628_rep_en.pdf
An important conference resource is a compilation of around 20 best practice examples of healthy ageing
initiatives in Europe, mostly Italy and Spain. Two selected initiatives are described in the final section of this
report (“Silver Song Clubs” and “Supporting Plan for Caregivers in Andalusia”)
14 “Mental Health and Well-being in Older People - Making it Happen” Gert Lang, Katharina Resch and
Katrin Hofer. http://ec.europa.eu/health/mental_health/docs/older_background.pdf
15 The State of Mental health in the European Union. European Communities; 2004
16 Lee, M. Promoting mental health and well-being in later life. Age Concern and Mental Health Foundation. 2006.
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/?entryid5=41185&char=P
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