Local Social Innovations in Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity: Policy Strategies in Cities of the European Union

The Active Ageing Index (AAI) 2010-2014 clearly shows that the quality of life of older people in the countries of the European Union is highly differentiated in various socio-economic fields. Thus, there is a need for studies that will focus on social innovations that are consistent with the United Nations concept of a “society for all ages,” which is crucial for the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.

The central thesis of the proposed paper is that in recent years in the European Union there have been significant investments in innovative social services for ageing societies. However, these solutions have not been evenly widespread in the EU in terms of generational and territorial solidarity and cohesion. There is a need to focus on scaling up the impact of these innovative social services. These requires a better understanding of social innovations in ageing and intergenerational solidarity through the comparison of (1) the AAI with (2) clusters of European welfare states, and (3) various databases of social innovations in ageing.

Research methodology for the proposed paper will be based on literature review and case studies. The first part of the paper will discuss the theoretical concepts. The second part will include comparisons between the EU countries regarding the AAI and welfare states typologies. The third part will focus on the comparisons of social innovations between countries and in “model regions” that are developing the “silver economy.” Data (national profiles and best practices) from few sources will be used: the WILCO project, Social Innovation Europe, EFID, WHO, AFE INNOVNET, Changemakers, the OECD “Sustainable Urban Development Policies in Ageing Societies” project, and EMIL.

The summary will contain recommendations for entities of socio-economic policy on the EU and national levels and suggestions for future-oriented research directions.