The planet faces major threats including ageing, as the population ages at an unprecedented rate by 2030 there will be 1.4 billion people over 60 worldwide and in 2050 another 100 billion will be added.The world is experiencing a revolution that will change everything with the emerging $610 billion anti-aging industry trying to identify the changes and processes in premature aging in order to delay and most importantly reverse them.We are programmed to live 120 years, but we must prevent premature aging, so that the extra viable years are accompanied by well-being.
Biotechnology research related to aging and longevity is going through a golden age and involves billions of investments from venture funds, the pharmaceutical industry and non-profit organizations. The Silver Economy, with economic activities aimed at people aged over 60 to 82 – and Golden Economy – over 82 can function as a modern model of supporting economic development, while up to 2025 they will contribute with 6.4 trillion euro to the European GDP creating 88 million jobs with an increase of 32% of the EU GDP and 38% of employment. Furthermore, by 2030, the total annual consumption of elderly people in Europe is expected to increase by 39%, exceeding 5 trillion euro, while the population will increase by 18% reaching 221 million.
In Germany today there are 13,000 Elderly Care Units of all kinds, while over 500,000 German seniors are unable to cover the costs of living in a nursing home, with a cost increase rate of 8% per year varying between 2,900 and 3,600 euros per month, with pensions remaining fixed. Germany’s population is expected to fall from 82 million to 69 million by 2050, with one in 15 (that’s around 4.7 million elderly) needing care.Germany’s nursing homes and Elderly Care Units are opening branches abroad, as a new market, with new investment possibilities in the specific sector. The cost of accommodation in Elderly Care Units will rise in Germany excessively due to the lack of beds that will arise due to the new legislation establishing Elderly Care Units, as the lack of beds in Elderly Care Units in Germany was a deficit of 500-600,000.
It is necessary to develop tourism for the third and fourth age and with the possibility of long-term living of wealthy retirees in large residential zones (retirement villages) in our country with Preventive Medicine and Wellness centers, in the wonderful and unique bioclimate of Greece with the excellent Greek Hippocratic diet as a means of prevention in aging to avoid pathological dysfunctions.
Konstantinos Kouskoukis
Professor of Dermatology
Lawyer
President Hippocratic Academy of Thermal Medicine
President World Academy of Chinese & Complimentary Medicine