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The aging of societies is a global phenomenon, but it has singularities in each country. Between mini baby boom, maintaining its workforce and baby-boomers, the French company has strengths and vulnerabilities. Without neglecting the teachings of the comparison with other countries, it is to formulate an original response to the challenges of aging in the case of France.

The French demographic equation consists first of an accelerated process of aging "from above" (increase in the elderly) in the next fifteen years:

•   the average life expectancy has surpassed 80 years since 2004;
•   the large baby-boom crossed the threshold of 60 years since 2006 (with a passage from 12.8 to 20.9 million 60 and older by 2035);
•   the number of dependents is expected to reach a first peak at 2020-2025 (1.2 million in 2020) and remain at a high level until 2050-2060.

Simultaneously, the French company has the fertility rate highest in Europe (nearly 2.1 children per woman). This is definitely a chance for the future but we will, more than others, under stress of "ownership" in the next 15 years, with accumulated needs of early childhood and a population likely increase in dependent elderly. This illustrates a broader perspective on the social compact: our collective choices will have to balance the aspirations and needs of not three but four generations, separating the seniors and seniors (over 75 years).

The scenario "over water" of aging in French society may include economic risks (low growth) and social (intergenerational conflict). But this report makes the assumption that aging is controlled within our reach, if not longer defer a set of structural reforms. Longer live together leads us to operate more levers, including:

•       promote the careers "sustainable" with the valuation of devices across the product life cycle in a preventive professional (training, improved working conditions, new age management in the company) to move towards an aging successful both at work and through work;
•       redirect social spending for cash benefits and benefits to the tax-benefits in kind, to finance the growing number and range of professional services to individuals and improve the quality of life for seniors in need. The opportunity to create jobs is real - could be counted almost 1 million jobs associated with aging in 2025 (doubling in twenty years the number of players at home and a 25% growth over the same period for positions in institutions for the elderly);
•       continue development of the labor market of personal services without creating barriers against less skilled, but by seeking to remove those existing today between the public (children, disability, dependence) and places of exercise (home or institution).

Meeting the needs of seniors and seniors, whether living standards, health, housing or safety, public policies can help improve the welfare of all and act as a "multiplier "Private-family solidarity that might otherwise run out ... Provided, however, to organize, by a "policy mix" unpublished, in tune with a society where people live longer.

The 10 main proposals of the Report

•   Proposal 1 : Encourage and statistical work in the university refers to age groups more in line with current realities, differentiating elderly seniors before and after 75 years.
   
•   Proposal 2 : Strengthen health education from an early age through education, particularly through the teaching of a healthy lifestyle.
   
•   Proposal 3 : To fight against inequalities in access to training throughout the career by strengthening the rights to education, empowering more employers.
   
•   Proposal 4 : To empower even more companies in improving working conditions by reforming the system of coverage of ATMP.
   
•   Proposition 5 : Educate SMEs "universal design" to design products easily usable by all, by encouraging the creation of centers of experimentation to verify the compatibility of products for elderly and disabled.
   
•   Proposition 6 : Strengthening the coordination of various social and health officials in developing contractual agreements between actors.
   
•   Proposal 7 : Influencing the French strategy for housing by balancing efforts between new construction and rehabilitation of existing housing stock, and undertake a systematic inventory of homes adapted to facilitate mobility.
   
•   Proposition 8 : Launch a discussion on a reconciliation of trades with the elderly, the disabled and early childhood (training, creation of "bridges" between jobs).
   
•   Proposal 9 : Educate businesses and insurers to difficulties in work or private life by family caregivers (flexibility of schedules, telecommuting, employee information, coordinating programs for geriatric care, etc..).
   
•   Proposal 10 : Make LINC and MAIA genuine one-stop shops in the area of dependency by diversifying the proposed information and improving their accessibility.
   

Press contact:

Jean-Michel ROULLE
Head of Communications
jean-michel.roulle@strategie.gouv.fr
Tel. 01 42 75 61 37