8 October 1992

Doc. 6706

1403-8/10/92-4-E

MOTION FOR A RECOMMENDATION

on the health of the old and provision for the

dependent

presented by Mr BEIX and others

1.       Thanks to improved living standards and huge medical progress, both female and male life expectancy in Europe has been increasing by about one year every four years. Average life expectancy is now around 75 years for men and over 83 years for women. This appreciable progress has also generated problems, however, since some old people lose the ability to fend for themselves and become dependent on others. Elderly dependence is the great challenge of the years ahead and, quite apart from the human aspect, raises important financial questions.

2.       Old age and demand for health provision go hand in hand as the old often suffer from multiple chronic illness. However, the sickness and old-age benefits available under social security schemes are mostly inadequate to the task of dealing with loss of autonomy. There is too little provision for enabling people to stay on in their own homes and institutional accommodation for the old is often unaffordable and does not always meet even the minimum acceptable standard of care or treatment.

3.       In the spirit of the protocol to the European Social Charter the Assembly accordingly recommends that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe:

i.       instruct the relevant intergovernmental committee to make a critical comparative study of provision, including benefits in cash and kind for the old under the sickness and old-age branches of social security schemes;

ii.       consider how special social security benefits might be introduced as a proper expression of solidarity between the generations.

Signed:       Beix, Bassinet, Dhaille, Wielowieyski, Foschi, Diaz de Mera, Marques, Özver, Koehl, Oehler, Teaci, Cox.