2. Senior
• Old age refers to ages nearing or surpassing
the life expectancy of human beings, and is
thus the end of the human life cycle.
• Terms and euphemisms for old people
include, old people (worldwide
usage), seniors (American usage), senior
citizens (British and American usage), older
adults (in the social sciences), the elderly,
and elders (in many cultures).
3. UN
• The United Nations has agreed that
60+ years may be usually denoted as
old age and this is the first attempt
at an international definition of old
age. However, for its study of old age
in Africa, the World Health
Organization (WHO) set 50 as the
beginning of old age.
• At the same time, the WHO
recognized that the developing world
often defines old age, not by years,
but by new roles, loss of previous
roles, or inability to make active
contributions to society.
4. Western Country
• Most developed Western
countries set the age of 60 to
65 for retirement. Being 60–
65 years old is usually a
requirement for becoming
eligible for senior social
programs. However, various
countries and societies
consider the onset of old age
as anywhere from the mid-40s
to the 70s.
5. Fact and Data
In the USA in 2008, 11 million
people aged 65+ lived alone:
• 5 million or 22% of ages 65–74,
• 4 million or 34% of ages 75–84,
• and 2 million or 41% of ages
85+.
The 2007 gender breakdown for
all people 65+ was men 19%
and women 39%.
6. • Many new assistive devices
made especially for the
home have enabled more
old people to care for
themselves activities of
daily living (ADL). Able Data
lists 40,000 assistive
technology products in 20
categories.
Fact and Data..con’t
7. • Some examples of devices are
a medical alert and safety
system, shower seat (making
it so the person does not get
tired in the shower and fall), a
bed cane (offering support to
those with unsteadiness
getting in and out of bed) and
an ADL cuff (used with eating
utensils for people with
paralysis or hand weakness)
Fact and Data..con’t
8. • A Swedish study found that at
age 76, 46% of the subjects used
assistive devices. When they
reached age 86, 69% used them.
The subjects were ambivalent
regarding the use of the assistive
devices: as “enablers” or as
“disablers.” People who view
assistive devices as enabling
greater independence accept
and use them. Those who see
them as symbols of disability
reject them
Fact and Data..con’t
9. • Even with assistive devices as of
2006, 8.5 million Americans
needed personal assistance
because of impaired basic
activities of daily living
(ADLs) required for personal care
or impaired instrumental
activities of daily living (
IADLs) required for independent
living. Projections place this
number at 21 million by 2030
when 40% of Americans over 70
will need assistance.
Fact and Data..con’t
10. • There are many options for
such long term care to those
who require it. There is
the home care in which a
family member, volunteer,
or trained professional will
aid the person in need and
help with daily activities.
Fact and Data..con’t
11. • Another option is community
services which can provide the
person with transportation,
meal plans, or activities
in senior centers. A third
option is assisted living where
24-hour round-the-clock
supervision is given with aid in
eating, bathing, dressing, etc.
A final option is a nursing
home which provides
professional nursing care
Fact and Data..con’t
12. The Market
• The number of older persons is
841 million in 2013, which is
four times higher than the 202
million that lived in 1950. The
older population will almost
triple by 2050, when it is
expected to surpass the two
billion mark. The projection of
older people has a higher degree
of certainty than that of younger
age groups, because all the
individuals older than 60 years in
2050 were already born at the
time the projection was made.
13. The Market… con’t
• The trend in the number of
older persons in the world is
dominated by the fast growth
of the older population in the
less developed regions, where
the size of the older
population is 554 million in
2013, which is five times
greater than in 1950 (108
million).
14. • The number of older people in
these regions will further triple by
2050 to attain 1.6 billion. The speed
of change in the more developed
regions has been impressive too,
but significantly slower than in the
less developed regions. The older
population of the more developed
regions tripled between 1950 and
2013, from 94 million to 287
million, and it will increase further
in coming decades, reaching 417
million in 2050.
21. Preferences and Expectations
• Preference to travel with companion
(partner, relatives, friends)
• Preferred duration 4-7 nights with
option of extending up to 13 nights
• Budget up to 100€ a day
• Preferred seasons: summer and
spring, followed by autumn
• Nature and Culture rated as no. 1
theme, followed by health and Well
being
• Preferred activities are swimming and
hiking
• Sources of information: relatives,
friends and the internet
