The 'social prescription', an urgent measure in the era of new longevity

Today we are witnessing the arrival of baby boomers at retirement age. According to the trend seen in recent years, those born between 1957 and 1973 will live two or three decades longer than their predecessors.

They are the protagonists of ‘the new longevity’. As psychologist and gerontologist Javier Yanguas points out in his book Pasos hacia la nueva vejez (Steps towards the new old age, Destino, 2021), this new period of their lives will consist of three chronological stages with different needs: a first phase – historically new – in which they will feel older but not old; a second stage of ‘frailty’, in which they will have to come to terms with illness; and, only in the third stage, dependence.

This is what the new elderly are like

The landscape has changed, and so have the needs of the new elderly: they are no longer the same as they were 20 or 30 years ago. They do not need digital literacy. They have lived through the emancipation of women and their advancement in public life.

Intellectually better prepared, these people have a different approach to self-care than other generations. They do not want to depend on their children and value achieving a life project in which their well-being, health and social relationships are balanced. However, self-care, personal autonomy and active ageing are not enough for them. They want more.

This, in short, is the picture painted in the conclusions of the 1st Seminar on New Longevity, held between 23 and 25 October in Calonge i Sant Antoni (Girona) and organised by the Campus of Experience of the International University of Catalonia. Experts from 16 universities around the world confirmed that the demands of the generation now reaching retirement age are not only related to health and care, but also to education, relationships and meaning.

What to do with all this extra time?

As Yanguas points out, these new retirees are mostly in good health, but they find themselves facing a new post-working life without a clear purpose. They are going to live longer than their predecessors, but what are they going to do with the extra time? No one knows, and there is no clear answer in sight.

It is a frustrating situation for them and for others, because it is not a question of extending the years of life, but of filling those years with life, giving that stage meaning and purpose.

In addition, the new elderly are often victims of unwanted loneliness, which is the ‘silent epidemic’ of our time. Today, it is estimated that 13.4% of Spaniards suffer from it and that 22.9% experience this feeling throughout the day. In Europe, around 30 million people often feel lonely.

This loneliness can be physical, psychological or spiritual, and, together with a lack of meaning, has consequences for health: increased sedentary lifestyles, isolation, pathologies and addictions. Several studies agree that feelings of loneliness cause anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment in older people.

Therefore, addressing the lack of meaning and loneliness is not a health challenge but a social one, and it remains largely unresolved.

For this reason, the experts and academics who attended the meeting encouraged universities to work with public institutions. The aim is to measure the critical aspects of ‘new longevity’ and design policies and initiatives that go beyond merely promoting active ageing, physical exercise and personal autonomy.

‘Meaningful’ leisure

The meaning of this stage of life would come mainly from the number and quality of social relationships, particularly among peers. Various studies show that when people engage in ‘meaningful’ activities – interactive classes, volunteering, hiking, workshops, travel, etc. – they regain a sense of purpose and belonging to a group. This participation and collaboration also promotes well-being and quality of life.

Leisure, without a doubt, occupies a prominent place. Freely chosen leisure activities that promote the true empowerment of older people and their adaptation to the context in which they live: a changing world.

University education for older adults is proving to be an optimal means of achieving this goal, as it promotes personal growth and the building of satisfying and solid relationships among peers. This is enshrined in Principle 1 of the European Pillar of Social Rights (2017), which guarantees the right to inclusive and quality education, training and lifelong learning so that everyone can participate fully in society and manage career transitions.

An urgent need: social prescription

The experts gathered in Calonge urge the extension of initiatives within the framework of the so-called ‘social prescription’ of older adults as a complement to medical prescription. This is a philosophy and public policy that is widespread in Anglo-Saxon countries and is based on an idea that is as simple as it is radical: that health has a very important social dimension.

A small intervention – a conversation, a moment of companionship – can change the course of a life, improving personal autonomy and health. It is a holistic approach that connects people with meaningful activities through community support, enhancing their well-being and sense of purpose.

In other words, social prescribing must move from being something exceptional to something expected. To achieve this, administrations, local councils, health services and universities must collaborate in promoting measures.

The link between the healthcare system and community resources must be made more tangible by creating networks of trust, coordination and connection that include university, cultural, artistic and musical activities, among others. Every classroom, park or café can become a space for social prescription. And although each project is different, they are all part of the same informal network promoting wellbeing.

Bridges must be built not only between health and the community, but also between generations, cultures and disciplines. This will not only improve individual wellbeing, but also transform the way societies care for, connect and thrive in the age of ‘new longevity’.

•    retirement

•    healthy ageing

•    active ageing

•    baby boomers