Aging well means continuing to play a role in society.
The Common Good Summit, a forum that brings together business leaders, industry experts, economists, and policymakers to exchange perspectives on societal issues, will hold its second edition in Toulouse on May 19 and 20, 2022. Among the key topics to be discussed is the issue of aging. Sylvain Rabuel, Chairman of the DomusVi Group and a speaker at the summit, shared his vision of successful aging and the role of older adults in society in an interview with Challenges magazine.
Excerpt from the interview published in Challenges magazine
Challenges – How can the common good be reconciled with successful aging?
Sylvain Rabuel – First, let’s look at some figures to understand what the future holds: by 2035, one-third of our population will no longer be working, and each individual will spend a third of their life in this situation. Given this, the real issue isn’t whether the standard retirement age will be raised from 62 to 65, but rather how we can ensure that this group of men and women—those who have left the workforce while still intellectually and physically capable—can continue to contribute to society. For the common good, in my opinion, we need to approach this issue from a life-cycle perspective: retirement is certainly the end of one phase of life, but it is also the beginning of another. Aging well means continuing to play an active role in society.
What do you propose?
The transition to retirement often creates unforeseen challenges and disruptions. Why not create a platform similar to Parcoursup for students, but for those entering their post-retirement phase? This “Parcoursup for the third act of life” could serve as an information and guidance resource, helping individuals find ways to contribute to society (mentoring young people, engaging in the social economy, etc.). Such a platform could also support family caregivers by helping them anticipate and address the challenges associated with aging and potential vulnerabilities. In France, 11 million family members provide care for a relative aged 60 or older. It is essential to support both the caregivers and the elderly themselves. Another crucial issue that needs addressing is staffing levels in care facilities.
Read the full interview on the Challenges magazine website.
The Common Good Summit is a forum that brings together business leaders, industry experts, economists, and policymakers to exchange perspectives on societal issues.