Meeting the Challenges of Demographic Change Gertraud DAYÉ 1 Past Chair of the NGO Committee on Ageing – UN, Vienna, Austria and Past Director of EURAG – European Federation of Older Persons – General Secretariat, Graz, Austria Abstract. The shifts in age-group ratios in the population are confronting all continents with new challenges. At the moment Europe is at the top of the old age statistics with the highest life expectancy rate. The changes in the age structure of the population mean new socio-political responsibilities both today and in the future. Participation of older persons in all decisions concerning them, has to apply not only for age policies and social programmes, but also for the design of all kinds of equipment, technical aids, plans for flats or homes for older persons, - including restrooms. EURAG European Federation of Older Persons, welcomes the approach of User Driven Research promoted by the European Commission, GD Research as an important contribution to bringing the European Union closer to its citizens. Keywords. Demography, User-Driven Research, Ageing 1. Introduction The shifts in age-group ratios in the population are confronting all continents with new challenges. The comparison between the years 1999 and 2050 illustrates the dramatic rise in the number of older people. United Nations forecasts predict an increase in the number of over 60 year olds from 10 to 22 percent by the year 2050 alone. At the moment Europe is at the top of the old age statistics with the highest life expectancy rate. In the period 1960 to 1995 life expectancy in the European Union rose by 8 years for men and 7 years for women. In 1995 almost one fifth of the population was over 60; by the year 2020 probably one in four will be in this age group. There is a particularly striking increase in the number of the very old by about 40 percent. The fact that an ever increasing number of people are reaching an advanced age and that these are often years of health and activity can be counted as a very real progress. Yet the changes in the age structure of the population mean new socio- political responsibilities both today and in the future. Both governments and society are called upon to join in facing these new demands. Demographic change calls for a new definition of the relationship between the generations. The International Year of Older Persons proclaimed by the United Nations 1 Contact Information: Gertraud Dayé, Independent Expert; Adress: Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Kai 56, 8010 Graz, Austria; Tel: +43 316 678724; Mobile: +43 650 6787240; Email: gertraud.daye@aon.at A Friendly Rest Room: Developing Toilets of the Future for Disabled and Elderly People J.F.M. Molenbroek et al. (Eds.) IOS Press, 2011 © 2011 The authors. All rights reserved. doi:10.3233/978-1-60750-752-9-3 3