Active ageing and senior citizen

Abstract

This paper is a theoretical reflection on the origin and evolution of «active ageing» as a political framework at the international level since the end of the last century, and its institutional influence in Europe and Spain currently. Likewise, this concept is related to similar ones that show the importance of policies and programs to improve the quality of life among older people in ageing societies. As a result of this research, other significant terms of the socio-demographic context confirm the increasing weight of the population of people over 65 as senior citizen, and the new social roles of older adults as agents of welfare and intergenerational solidarity. Thus, senior citizenship is present and future in changing societies where a new social contract of individual and vital responsibility will be necessary to cope the political, economic, technological and demographic challenges.