Older age and loss of autonomy

An estimated 3 million people aged 60 and over in France—1 person in 7—are in a state of dependency; that is, needing help to carry out certain daily activities. A quarter of these could be thought of as heavily dependent, meaning that they are confined either to bed or an armchair and that their mental functions have seriously deteriorated.

INED studies in this area focus notably on living conditions and social inequalities in old age. What states of health do older persons live in? What factors are likely to bring about an inability to perform certain activities, and which factors on the contrary may enable people to perform them longer? What changes are expected in the near future? INED researchers are also interested in the kinds of aid available to older dependent persons, how their families may care for them, and social policies targeting this population group. What kinds of daily support do these people receive? What roles do families have to take on? How can our social policies evolve in order to respond more fully and effectively to the needs of dependent older persons?
Below is a set of resources INED has compiled on late old age.