AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.09.2003, Page 22

Olafur Olafsson, former Surgeon General of lceland
Will Europe Become
the Home of the Poor
and Old ?
The State and health profession-
als have failed in their duty
towards the aged.
1. The number of comparatively
well-aged people in Europe is on
the increase and at the same
time the number of fully employed
people, 60 years old and more,
has fallen very much but least in
lceland. This situation has creat-
ed a social and political problem
as many aged need medicine for
depression and melancholy. The
state and the health professionals
largely overlook this problem.
(Scandinavian research in 2000).
2. Old age pension in lceland
does not increase at the same
rate as the salary of salaried peo-
ple. The same is the case in
many countries of Europe. Taxes
on low income and pensions are
on the increase. The number of
pensioners has increased and
they are not active in production
and economic activities. They
become neutral citizens. As a
result, fewer and fewer aged have
the power of decision in the
„bridge" e.g. in government as
Members of Parliament or near to
those who decide laws and
taxes. Those who decidethese
matters are younger and do not
take the situation of the aged into
account.
3. On our board in the Society of
the Elderly there are a few
women and their number is on
the increase. Our office manager
is a woman. However, women
are too few. This is partially due
to the fact that from 1960-1970
when women flocked to the
labour market, they were not as
educated as men. I am of the
opinion that this will change and
the household chores will be
divided more evenly if this is to
fare well.
4. Our demands are the follow-
ing: That basic pension will have
to increase at the same rate as
wages and that everybody
receives basic wage irrespective
of income. The same applies to
additional pension and lower
taxes, especially on own accom-
modation. Today a large propor-
tion of pensioners receive pen-
sion that is not equal to the „mini-
mal existence index“ (lcelandic
statistic). A lawsuit in this connec-
tion has been in process since
1.11.02. We in lceland are of the
opinion that pension which was
created through investments
should be taxed as ordinary capi-
tal gains, possibly at a rate of
10%, but not as earned income,
38,74% . Two professors who
teach at the Department of Law
at the University of lceland sup-
port this view. The Ministry of
Finance agrees with us that this
matter has to be settled before
the Courts. The Prime Minister
put together a committee,
appointed by the Government
and senior citizens. They pro-
posed more nursing places and
as a result pensions were slightly
raised.
5. The attitude of society to the
elderly? Earlier on, the elderly
took a greater part in society. We
participated in delivering culture
and ever working methods to
young people. The elderly lived
with young people in places such
as out in the country. Great
changes have taken place in this
area. High technology, changed
conditions of families, urbanisa-
tion, both parents working and
nobody at home during the day
has had the following conse-
quences. The conditions at home
have changed in such a way that
the elderly can no longer live with
their children. One has the feeling
that the elderly are no longer part
of society and not needed any-
more.
6. Long term clinical studies of
the bodily health of the elderly in
lceland (Hjartavernd, Ó. Ólafsson
and others) have demonstrated
that 70-year old people today are
in much better health than 70-
year olds 20-30 years ago. They
have much better lungs (due to
smoking less) and fewer cardio-
vascular illnesses, lower coles-
terol and blood pressure and bet-
ter general condition. These stud-
ies show the same results as
Swedish studies (prof. Svanborg,
Gothenburg and the research of
Glostrup in Copenhagen). The
ability to work has increased. The
results of the Danish study
showed also better mental
condition, knowledge, mathemati-
cal ability and dexterity. More 70-
year old people have studied at
grammar schools, special col-
leges or even universities than
70-year olds, 20-30 years ago.
These people are therefore more
active and they want to have
something to occupy themselves
with. Therefore, they feel worse
not having anything to do and
use more of antidepressants. This
is a sad development.
7. Prejudice. The youth cult is on
the increase and the people they
associate for the greatest part
with people of their own age.
Those who are older become
more and more isolated and have
less and less to do. This is a
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