Proces starzenia się populacji szansą na wzmocnienie działalności woluntarystycznej i prywatnych przepływów międzypokoleniowych w społeczeństwie polskim
The popula on ageing process as a chance to strengthen the voluntary activities and private intergenerational flows within Polish society

Summary/Abstract: The conducted analysis aims to show the ageing process as a challenge driving the development of the underestimated or overlooked elements of social life, such as volunteering and intergenerational service provided by seniors for their environment and their relatives. The process of flows of social services and the benefits given by the elder people to the young is often ignored in the socio-economic analyses. There is still a belief that the only natural direction is a reverse flow from young to older people resulting from an inevitable deterioration of health, cognitive skills and social and professional competencies with age. This belief, at a time when not only is the average lifespan longer, but the quality of life is improving, is unreasonable and may relate only to the final phase of the ageing process. The starting point of the analysis is the question of the ongoing processes of population ageing and its effects on the general population. The later section is a critical discussion of the concept of ‘apocalyptic demography’ based on five elements: homogenisation of this group, perception of the ageing process as a social issue, intergenerational conflict, connecting the ageing process only with social policy, without covering the issue of the resources of this social group and the resulting potential socio-economic benefits.

• Details
• Contents