Researchers from the Baltic States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and the USA Address Issues of Promoting Healthy Ageing, Welfare, and Social Security
On 3 June, Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) in cooperation with the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia brought together researchers, representatives of the Ministry of Welfare and the Ministry of Health, as well as non-governmental organisations for a seminar Promotion of Healthy Ageing, Welfare and Social Security. This was the first seminar organised within the framework of the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism Mobility Fellowship project Promoting Healthy Ageing, Welfare and Social Security (EEA-GRANT-2005). The project is implemented by the RSU Statistics Unit and the Institute of Public Health in collaboration with the University of Iceland and the University of Liechtenstein.
The seminar was opened by Stefan Eriksson, Director of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia.
In the first part of the seminar, researchers focused on SHARE (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe) data and the challenges of ageing in the Baltic States and Sweden. SHARE is an international study, in which information on health, economic, demographic, and psychological aspects is gathered through interviews with the population over the age of 50 years. The data is being collected in 27 countries of the European Union as well as in Switzerland and Israel. The first population survey was carried out in 2004. The initial data collection in Latvia took place in 2017.
Ieva Reine, PhD, lead researcher at the RSU Statistics Unit, presented the research project on Challenges of Ageing in the Baltic Sea Region, focusing on challenges of ageing in the Baltic States and Sweden as well as social exclusion factors of the elderly population, outlining the ongoing changes in the conditions of social diversification.
Next, doctoral student and researcher Madara Miķelsone from the RSU Statistics Unit presented key findings on how self-rated physical and mental health indicators have changed over time, namely comparing data from SHARE Waves 7 through 9.
Luule Sakkeus, PhD, Professor at the Estonian Institute for Population Studies of Tallinn University, presented the SHARE supplementary survey modules developed for Estonia. The professor continued by presenting the general population health indicators during the COVID-19 pandemic in all SHARE member states.
Antanas Kairys, PhD, Professor at the Psychology Institute of Vilnius University, presented the Well-Being of Older Adults in Baltic States study, which analysed factors affecting well-being based on the data from SHARE Wave 7. Professor Kairys focused particularly on factors affecting well-being, such as health, employment, and the quality of employment.
In the second part of the seminar, researchers addressed issues related to health inequalities. Courtney M. Queen, PhD, Visiting Researcher at the RSU Institute of Public Health, Fulbright Scholar, Associate Professor at the Department of Public Health of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, presented the study Health Research Utilizing Health Equity Frameworks among the Elderly in the Baltic Nations carried out within the project International Relationships & Translational Actions toward Health Equity. In her presentation, the researcher pointed out the need to strive for equal opportunities in health, which also means eliminating disparities for disadvantaged social groups.
In the third part of the seminar, Tanja Kirn, PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Liechtenstein, focused on labour market trends, comparing countries with low, medium, and high gender pay gaps, and presented actual and projected labour market participation rates for men and women, as well as outlined projections for pension gaps. The researcher highlighted the main factors influencing the pension gap as well as the conditions determining extensive and intensive participation in the labour market.
Next, Halldór S. Guðmundsson, Associate Professor and Senior Researcher at the University of Iceland, presented the Icelandic Ministry of Health’s 2021 policy on healthcare services for the elderly and the projections for the Icelandic population in 2021–2070 and the costs of healthcare services. The Professor also outlined the main challenges of ageing in the international context and the relationship of sustainable development goals and priorities to the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030). Professor Guðmundsson pointed out that the draft policy developed by the Icelandic Ministry of Health will serve as a basis for the action plan for the next five years.
In conclusion, the participants discussed the way forward in research for healthy ageing, welfare, and social security and agreed to collaborate on SHARE data-based research project proposals and scientific publications.
The organisers would like to thank all participants for the valuable exchange of experiences and insights that will serve as a basis for strengthening scientific capacity and to thank the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia, in particular Senior Advisor Daina Mežecka, for the warm welcome!
