By Jaana Perttunen, EORNA President
Europe is experiencing a profound demographic shift. By 2050, nearly one in three Europeans will be over 65, up from 21% today. People who reach 65 can now expect to live more than 20 additional years, yet more than half of these years are affected by chronic illnesses or disabilities, highlighting the critical difference between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy.
Women tend to live longer than men, but most of their added years are spent with health challenges, leaving almost no gender gap in healthy life expectancy. This makes prevention and health promotion vital for everyone, regardless of gender.
Preventable burdens in later life
Much of the disease burden in older age can be avoided by addressing key risk factors throughout life. For instance, the 2024 Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention estimates that up to 45% of dementia cases could be prevented through interventions on 14 modifiable risk factors.
Physical inactivity is another major contributor, driving cardiovascular disease, depression, and many other conditions. Alarmingly, only 22% of people aged over 65 in the EU engage in sufficient physical activity. Obesity rates also rise with age, peaking at around 20% among those aged 65–74 in 2022.
Without effective action, these preventable conditions will continue to reduce quality of life, place enormous strain on families, and increase demand on healthcare and long-term care systems.
Nurses at the forefront of healthy ageing
Perioperative nurses see firsthand how chronic conditions and frailty affect patient outcomes. But nurses are not just caregivers; they are educators, advocates, and leaders in promoting health.
Through patient education, vaccination campaigns, mental health support, and lifestyle guidance, nurses can empower individuals to take charge of their health. Every intervention, no matter how small, contributes to prolonging healthy years and reducing complications in surgery and other treatments.
Policy matters: investing in prevention
The OECD projects that a concerted “healthy ageing” approach — focused on disease prevention, vaccination, mental health, and personal empowerment — could slow the growth of health spending as a share of GDP, contain long-term care costs, and reduce workforce pressures in health and social care.
The message is clear: investing in healthy longevity today is both a moral imperative and a smart economic strategy.
Looking ahead
At EORNA, we see a future where ageing is not just about living longer, but living better. By prioritising prevention and empowering people across the life course, Europe can ensure that longer lives are healthier, more independent, and more fulfilling.
Healthy longevity is a shared responsibility — one where nurses, healthcare systems, policymakers, and communities all have a role to play. Together, we can turn longer life expectancy into more life lived in good health.
