What is old age?

The All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM), shortly before the International Day of the Elderly on October 1, presented data on what Russians think about the elderly, how, in the opinion of our fellow citizens, their rights are respected, whether the retirement age should be raised and what our compatriots expect to live in old age.

• The International Day of Older Persons was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly on December 14, 1990. In Russia, the Day of the Elderly is celebrated on the basis of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation of June 1, 1992, No. 2890/1-1 "On the problems of the elderly".
• The purpose of the Day of the Elderly is to attract public attention to the problems of the elderly; to increase public awareness of the problem of demographic aging of society, the individual and social needs of the elderly, their contribution to the development of society, the need to change attitudes towards the elderly; to provide the elderly with independence, participation in society, necessary care, conditions to realize their inner potential and maintain their dignity.
• The Day of the Elderly focuses on the interests of low-income elderly citizens, single pensioners and elderly people with disabilities, issues of providing them with material, social, household and other types of assistance.
• Within the framework of the International Day of the Elderly, free concerts, charity performances, film screenings, recreation evenings, as well as amateur art competitions and sports competitions among the elderly are held. Honoring centenarians, married couples, personal exhibitions of veterans' works and other events are traditionally timed to the Day of the Elderly.

Main survey results:Most Russians feel respect at the sight of an elderly person.

• Old people for us are first of all wise and kind.
• Old age occurs at the age of 60-64 years, according to a quarter of respondents. Another 18% are sure that an elderly person becomes 70-74 years old.
• Old age scares Russians mainly with the threat of loss of health, poverty, helplessness and loneliness.
• The rights of the elderly in Russia are rather not respected. Compared to 2005, there are more supporters of this opinion.
• Savings are a more significant condition for well–being in old age than an interesting life, our fellow citizens believe.
• Every third Russian plans to continue working after reaching retirement age.
• The overwhelming majority of Russians still do not see the need to increase the retirement age.
• Fewer and fewer Russians who have not reached retirement age are counting on additional sources of income in old age. There are more people who plan to live on retirement.

Full press release "Elderly Russia: how does the 30 millionth generation live?" read here.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru02.10.2009