National strategic policy for active ageing

Abstract

An ageing population represents one of the most significant demographic and socioeconomic developments that Maltese society will be facing in the coming decades. As a result of declining fertility and mortality levels and major improvements in life expectancy and healthy life years, the proportion of the population aged 65 years and over will increase dramatically in the coming years and decades. The combination of increased longevity and other social factors, such as improving health, the establishment of the welfare institutions of retirement and pension schemes and positive values and beliefs aimed at older persons, have opened up a new phase in a person’s lifetime, during which older persons spend a considerable amount of time in relatively active years following retirement. Rather than perceiving the rising number of older persons as an excessive burden on available welfare programmes, the ageing of the Maltese population is a cause for celebration. Increasing longevity is one of humanity’s greatest achievements. It is an indicator of socioeconomic progress, heralding the triumph of science and public policy into extending human lives and emphasising success in maintaining improved levels of health, independence, and autonomy well into the latter years.