Minister Beatriz Artolazabal at the Congress on New Longevity; for the first time in human history, there are more people over the age of 65 than children under the age of five.

Bilbao / Basque Country. 2022 11 07

The Minister of Equality, Justice and Social Policies of the Basque Government, Beatriz Artolazabal, has attended the opening of the summit on New Longevity (Bilbao) this week. Twenty experts participate in the meeting offering answers to demographic change. For the first time in human history, there are more people over the age of 65 than children under the age of five.

Organized by BBK and Ashoka, the inauguration was attended by Nora Sarasola, director of BBK's Social Work; Ana Sáenz de Miera, director of Ashoka's Next Now program; and social entrepreneurs Ana Urrutia, founder of Dignified Care; and Sergio Serapiao, founder of LAB60+ (Brazil).

It is estimated that by 2050 the number of people over 80 years of age will have tripled, a demographic change that has profound implications in areas such as urban planning, education, the labour market, mobility, culture, governance...

Ana Urrutia, founder of Dignified Care, explained that she designs protocols to eliminate physical and pharmacological restraints from nursing homes to improve the care system. Sergio Serapiao (Brazil), founder of LAB60+, has detailed that it offers professional opportunities for long-lived people.

The experts who participate in the conference until Wednesday come from Brazil, Venezuela, Senegal, Thailand, Canada, Denmark, Italy and Belgium.