The Concept of Active Longevity in Russia’s Policy on Aging

Figures & data

Figure 1. Policy documents chosen and chronological trends.

Table 1. The connection of active longevity to healthy aging, employment, and social participation in analyzed policy documents focused on policy targeting older people.

Action Strategy for the Benefit of Senior Citizens in the Russian Federation until 2025 (A) and related two Action plans for the periods of 2016–2020 and 2021–2025	This strategy aims to increase the longevity of older people and their quality of life (p. 23). Regular physical exercise, while significantly increasing the physical ability to work, will also have a favorable effect on mental activity and extend active longevity (p.14). It is necessary … to ensure that senior citizens continue to actively participate in social engagements which get them out in public (p. 20). The outcome of the strategy will be a set of measures aimed at improving the well-being and sociocultural development of senior citizens, strengthening their health, life expectancy, and active longevity (p. 43).
	Raising civic society’s attention to older people’s issues solutions, promoting the potential and achievements of gerontology and geriatrics … which can extend active longevity (A1-AP 2016, Article 8).
	Activities to create conditions [conducive to] active longevity, a healthy lifestyle, leisure, and social and civic engagement (A1-AP 2021, Part IV). Monitoring the effectiveness of existing regional programs to extend active longevity and healthy life expectancy (A1-AP 2021, Article 35). Selection of best practices for active longevity (A1-AP 2021, Article 36).
Concept for an Active Longevity Policy (HSE, 2020) (R).	The first objective … is to provide citizens of all ages throughout life with the best possible health, following the WHO definition (p. 19). The second objective is to create the necessary conditions for a secure and dignified life for senior citizens, regardless of their sex, age, health condition, and ability to serve themselves (p. 27). Active longevity involves the engagement of senior citizens in work and in economic, social, and political activities (p. 29). The third objective is to create the necessary conditions for maintaining and increasing the availability of paid employment in old age and for increasing the participation of senior citizens in society (p. 32).
Demography National Project (D-NP) and its part Older Generation Federal Project (OG-FP)	National goals … : … 1.2 Life expectancy increase up to 78 years (D-NP, p. 2). Older Generation Federal Project … aims to creating suitable conditions for active longevity, improving the quality of life for senior citizens by 2024, and motivating citizens to lead healthy lifestyles. Recognizing the importance of older people and developing an image of healthy aging are the most important tasks for society. It is necessary to overcome the negative stereotyping of older people, which encourages discrimination against them, and to create instead an environment conducive to active longevity in which older citizens are [engaged with and] included in society (D-NP, p. 20). The most significant objectives of the project … : preventive examinations and dispensarization for persons over the working age; the establishment of regional geriatric centers; selective observation of population health conditions; the establishment and implementation of a long-term care system for older people and people with disabilities … ; the bringing of stationary social service organizations as constituent entities of the Russian Federation into proper condition, as well as the elimination of queues therein (OG-FP, pp. 69–70).

Table 2. The connection of active longevity to healthy aging, employment, and social participation in other policy documents.

Concept of Demographic Policy until 2025 (B1) and Action plan for the period of 2021–2025	The main objectives of the demographic policy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2025 are: … the preservation and promotion of public health, extending active life, creating the necessary conditions and motivation for healthy living, significantly reducing the level of morbidity from … disease, improving the quality of life for those suffering from chronic diseases and people with disabilities (p. 7). Development of the system of active longevity and healthy aging in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation will … improve the health … [and] increase [the] life expectancy, material well-being, self-realization, and social participation of senior citizens (B1-AP 2021, Article 34)
National Strategy for Women 2017–2022 (B2)	There are a significant number of older women living alone in the Russian Federation, which entails the need to provide them support and promote suitable forms of employment, access to meaningful leisure activities, and other measures that contribute their active longevity (p. 6).
Demographic Policy of the Far East until 2025 (B3)	Reducing mortality and increasing life expectancy require: … the development of regional action plans for senior citizens to improve their health, livelihoods, wealth, and social well-being at the regional and municipal levels, taking into account local socioeconomic … living conditions (p. 10). State information and education campaigns should be carried out to promote … healthy lifestyles, healthy nutrition, and active longevity (p. 12).
Strategy for the development of physical culture and sports until 2030 (B4)	… development of skills and abilities in the field of physical culture and sports, especially for maintaining health and active longevity, ensuring physical and mental well-being (p. 2). The share of older people (women of 55–79 years, men of 60–79 years) systematically engaged in sports … : 15% in 2021 … 45% in 2030 (Appendix p. 3).

HSE. (2020). Концепция политики активного долголетия: Научно-методологический доклад НИУ ВШЭ [The Concept of Active longevity policy: Scientific-methodological report HSE]. https://publications.hse.ru/books/364905820

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