Secrets of Swedish centenarians
But behind everything is the state, which has skillfully organized social policy.
Caring in crownsSweden is not only a country of centenarians, but also an "aging" country.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), in 20 years every fourth Swede will cross the threshold of his 65th birthday. The state is already solving this demographic problem, creating all conditions for older people to be more active and healthier.
The material side of the issue is considerable – about 95 billion. Swedish kronor (10.7 billion euro) is allocated annually for health care and social assistance to the elderly.
The state provides support at the municipal level, that is, funding comes from the treasury of the city and commune. Social assistance manifests itself in various forms. Firstly, the costs of citizens for medical services are limited and amount to no more than 1,100 crowns per year. Having reached this amount, the patient visits the doctor for free for the rest of the year. According to the same principle, the costs of prescription drugs are also limited. In addition, elderly people's spending on medical services is subsidized from the municipal budget.
Secondly, elderly Swedes receive assistance at home, the amount of which depends on the physical condition of the person. Many municipalities offer pensioners ready-made lunches with home delivery or the opportunity to eat in special centers. Elderly people with disabilities have the right to round–the-clock assistance at home - not only domestic, but also professional medical. Such people are cared for by a personal assistant and a nurse. According to the National Health and Welfare Council of Sweden, about 240,000 people received home care in 2011. Taking care of an elderly person costs the city government a maximum of 1,760 Swedish crowns per month.
In a healthy body – a healthy mindThe Swedish state "invests" in the elderly not only financially, but also morally.
A healthy lifestyle is actively promoted among the population. And this applies to both pensioners and young people. Often, patients receive a prescription for physical activity from a doctor instead of a prescription for medicine. And all conditions are created for sports in Sweden: public football grounds, ski parks, all kinds of sports clubs and sections. "A cold wind blowing in your face helps you wake up in the morning," says Stefan Nyquist, who has been using a bicycle as his main means of transportation since childhood. Stefan recently turned 75 years old, during which he has never exchanged his two-wheeled friend for a comfortable car. A bicycle is a favorite "transport" in the south of the country, where there are no cold snowy winters. But they use it even in the north – the infrastructure allows it. Many refuse public and private transport not only to save money, but also to promote health. Even if Swedes have to use buses or trains to get to work, the round trip on average takes them no more than an hour! This is a saving of strength and nerves, which means another contribution to the piggy bank of health.
It is also significant that the number of smokers in the country is decreasing every year. According to the National Institute of Health, the proportion of smokers in Sweden is 18% of the total population. According to this indicator, the Scandinavians are also ahead of the rest of the EU member states. The age of smokers among Swedes is growing every year. The fact is that more and more young people are giving up this bad habit. The main reasons are high prices for tobacco products, the prohibition of smoking in public places, as well as the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.
Work is an incentive for lifeIt is noteworthy that the Swedes do not just "live" to an advanced age, but continue to lead a full-fledged lifestyle.
According to SCB statistics, the age of "healthy" elderly people has risen to 71 years, and at the same time their working capacity. The number of working Swedes aged 65-74 increased by 49% from 2005 to 2011. According to statistics, people continue to work on average up to 64.5 years, and this is a record figure within the EU. However, for many, working in old age is a forced necessity to ensure a long old age. In turn, the state plans to increase the retirement age, which now formally comes at 61.
Working in old age allows people not only health, but also good working conditions: a fixed working day, guaranteed vacation and many other social benefits. But the main thing is that, continuing to work, older people feel needed by society, and this is an important incentive for life.
A hundred years is not the limitWhat is the time frame of a person's life and who is given to step over the 100-year milestone?
Journalist Henrik Ennart tried to answer these questions in the recently published book "The Riddle of Aging". Ennart collected materials all over the world: interviewed scientists and made reports about centenarians in different parts of the world. He explored the so-called "blue zones" - places of concentration of those over a hundred. The journalist visited the islands of Ikaria and Sardinia, the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, as well as the "blue zone" of Sweden. It is located in the south of the country and stretches along the coast from the city of Kalmar (Smoland province) to the northern border of Lena Skone.
The journalist notes that the lifestyle of centenarians of all countries has a lot in common: these people eat less, move a lot and work without stress. In Sweden, some cultural characteristics also have a great influence on life expectancy. In the province of Smoland, religious foundations and traditions of collectivism are still strong, which establish social control over the population. Therefore, there are few people in such places who are addicted to alcohol and smoking.
No one has invented the elixir of longevity yet, writes Ennart. But a lot depends on the person himself – does he want to be old? If old age is the beginning of a new path for him, then this person has more chances to live a long full life.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru21.02.2013