Introduction

As the number and proportion of older persons in society increases, so do the total resources required to meet their needs (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe 1998). Over the next decades, the number of older and much older citizens will increase substantially in most major industrial countries around the world, including Poland. The effects of this change in demographics will affect everyone. Every sphere of society needs to adapt to these coming changes. The public image of older persons also needs to be rethought, from depicting idle or dependent people who are a burden to public finances, to the idea of them actively participating in society and contributing to its development (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe 1998).

What are the major challenges of population aging?

According to the United Nations Economic Conditions in Europe, the last 45 years could be described as a “demographic bonus” in Europe, as the proportion of working age population has been relatively large compared to the proportion of children and older persons. However, in some central and eastern European countries, considerable aging of the population is underway. This population has not accumulated the wealth and resources that the market economies of the West did during the “demographic bonus” (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe 1998).