Policy for the Elderly

Despite the poor demographic forecasts, the Ukrainian Government, namely the Ministry of Social Policy, continues the consistent and system-wide work to ensure decent life for everyone. Thus, the accelerated growth of the share of the elderly in the total population also influences the general change in the demand for educational, housing and utility and transport services, the structure of interaction at the community level.

In response to these challenges, Ukraine has undertaken a number of the most essential international duties, including the implementation of 17 Sustainable Development Goals until 2030 adopted at the UN

Summit in September 2015; the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) and the Reginal Strategy for the Implementation, in particular, as regards:

• consideration of ageing issues in all the areas of the policy to align the society and the economy with demographic changes, and development of the accessible society for any age;

• full integration and participation of the elderly into social life;

• adjustment of the social protection system with due consideration of demographic changes and their social and economic effects;

• continuous learning and adaptation of the educational system to the changing economic, social and demographic conditions;

• quality of life at any age and preservation of autonomy, including health and well-being;

support of families who take care of the elderly, and strengthened solidarity of different generations and within one generation.

The social policy for the elderly is generally aimed at expanding their rights and opportunities, decent ageing.

Quality Life for the Elderly

The Ministry of Social Policy has developed the concept of how the state and the society can ensure quality life for the elderly. Everyone has the right to live in the community where they are appreciated and respected.

The Active Longevity Strategy is being developed now: it is the document that will shape the state policy for supporting the elderly.

Introduction of the Active Longevity Strategy provides for:

• improving conditions for self-fulfilment of the elderly and their participation in social development processes;

• ensuring life and welfare of the elderly;

• creating the environment favourable for active life of such citizens;

• creating the system for protecting rights of the elderly and providing social services.

The purpose of the Strategy is not only to create conditions for self-fulfilment and participation of the elderly in social development processes, but also to focus on preservation of health and well-being as well to create the system for protecting rights of the elderly.

The expected outcomes of the Strategy must be as follows:

• an increase in the expected duration of active life of persons older than 60;
• an increase in the level of medical assistance, namely via medical examination and dispensary observation of health of the elderly;
• an increase in coverage of the elderly who educate themselves;
• an increase in the employment level of the persons aged 55 to 64;
• an increase in the level of coverage of the persons over 45 with formal education;
• an increase in coverage of the elderly with social services at their place of residence;
• fewer cases of illegal alienation of property of the elderly.

Ensuring the Right to Work and Access to Social Programmes

In order to respect the right to work based on the occupation, labour skills and with due consideration of the health condition, the Ministry of Social Policy already offers retraining and training programmes for the elderly. When the social services are contacted by persons older than 50 who need to be retrained or employed, they are generally offered two programmes. The first one is from the State Employment Service. It is the programme for the people older than 45 under which this category of people is given special vouchers for retraining so that they will be able to compete at the labour market. This programme has already turned out to be effective. Many people come to the social area through this programme.

The second programme is purely social: Universities of the Third Age available from the age of 45. There are more than 150 universities of this kind in Ukraine. Their purpose is to offer new knowledge that will enable an older person to gain new skills and professions.

The State also has grants to start your own business. The self-employment programme is also available to the elderly and is a very good option for those who have decided to start their own business at advanced age.