Transcript Slide 1

International Conference at ESEP
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Cyprus: The land of the lemon tree,
the pine, and the cypress,
land of love and dreams
and joy, a golden brown,
leaf floating in the sea
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 Location: in the extreme northeast corner of
the Mediterranean
 Capital: Nicosia
 Climate: temperature; Mediterranean with
hot, dry summers and cool winters
 Population: 775,927
 Government: Republic
 Official language is Greek
 The island’s main economic activities are
tourism, clothing and crafts exports and
merchant shipping.
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Cyprus because of its strategic location, has been
claimed over the centuries by most of her
neighbours and strong nations of various times
such as:
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Pheenecians
Agyptians
Assyrians
Persians
Romans
Venetians
Ottomans and
British
Cyprus gained its independence in 1960. People
lived in harmony and good prosperity until 1974.
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 Once again however a foreign invasion
brought an abrupt end to the island’s
prosperity. As a result of the Turkish
invasion in 1974 more than 50% of the
industrial infrastructure and productive
capacity was lost.
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“If Turkish invasion had not taken
place no measures would be
needed for the care of elderly
people in Cyprus”
Dr. Rudd 1976 (W.H.O. consultant)
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Reasons which created the need for the
provision of services for the elderly
• Turkish invasion which forced people out
of their home and split families
• The rise in the population´s life
expectancy
• the integration of women in Labour
market
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• The ageing of population is projected
to become an issue of concern by
2030. Hence, ageing has only recently
been mainstreamed in policies such
as economic, social protection, labour
market and health.
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Ageing situation
The population of Cyprus estimates at 766.400
at the end of 2005, an increase of 2,3% since
2004. An ageing trend in the population is
shown by the proportion of children below 15
which decreased to 18,4% compared to 25,4%
in 1992. The proportion of persons 65+ years
increased to 12,1% (2006) compared to 11% in
1992. The proportion of the population 65+
years is projected to increase to 17,6% by 2008
and to 26,2% by 2050.
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Ageing situation
Life expectancy at birth is at 77,0 for males and
81,7 for females for the period 2004/2005
(compared with 76,1 and 81,0 respectively in
the period 2000/2001) and is projected to
increase by 2050 to 81,9 years for males and
85,1 years for females
Female: 81,7
Male: 77,0
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Ageing situation
Cyprus
shows high levels of educational
attainment in the population. For the ages 2564 years, 65,3% have completed at least Upper
Secondary level compared to an average of
68,9% in the 25 Member States of the European
Union (EU-25). For the ages 25-64 years, 29,4%
have
tertiary
education
qualifications
compared to an average of 21,9% in the EU-25.
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Social and political situation:
influence ageing issues
• Families in Cyprus are changing in size and
structure. One to two-person households
have increased from 30% in 1982 to 37% in
1992 and 43% in 2001. The total divorce rate
has increased sharply in the last decade from
7,3 (1990) to 23,3 (2005). The percentage of
single parents, however, shows only a slight
increase from 4,2% in 1992 (3,7% single
mothers – 0,5% single fathers) to 5,7% in 2001
(5,0% single mothers – 0,7% single fathers).
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Social and political situation:
influence ageing issues
• As a response to a weakening informal care and
an increasing participation of women in the
labour market, new forms of formal care and
other family support services have been
developed in recent years. The current social
trends suggest that there is a need for
continuous development and adjustment of
measures at all levels of prevention, including
measures reconciling work and family life. The
Government, the social partners and civil society
are involved in the development of these
measures.
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• The national focal point on policies
concerning older persons: is the social
Welfare Services which belong to the
Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance)
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• The Supreme Policy Making body on Issues
Concerning Older Persons, established in 2000.
this Body has been set up by the Council of
Ministers to advise on the formulation of
comprehensive policies for older persons and to
coordinate relevant services and programmes. It
is chaired by the Minister of Labour and Social
Insurance and it is composed of the Permanent
Secretaries of the Ministries of Finance, Health,
Labour and Social Insurance and the Planning
Bureau.
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• Cyprus uses several mechanisms in
order to take into account the views
of older persons on the services
provided to them.
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• The Pancyprian Volunteerism
Coordinative Council (PVCC) as the
umbrella organisation of all voluntary
organisations has an advisory role in the
planning of social policy, including issues
concerning older persons.
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The Coordinating body for Older Persons
• This body, also chaired by the Minister of
Labour and social Insurance, has an
advisory role on policy issues with special
emphasis on matters related to social
services, health services and special
privileges which can be granted to
facilitate the access of older people to
different sites and services. Government
departments as well as trade unions,
NGOs and older persons themselves are
represented on this Body.
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The Advisory Board
• The Advisory Board is appointed by the
Minister of Labour and Social Insurance,
under the law regulating the establishment
and operation of homes for older persons
and persons with disabilities. The role of the
Board is to advise the Minister on the
implementation and the improvement of
legislation related to older persons.
Governmental departments, NGOs, local
authorities and older persons themselves are
represented on the Board.
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Elders´ Parliament
• The Elders´ Parliament was established in
1999 during the International Year of Older
Persons. It consists of 56 members
representing various non-govermental
organisations dealing with matters related to
older persons. The general aim of the body is
to bring up issues and recommendations
relevant to older citizens.
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Cyprus has undertaken several measures to
recognise,
encourage
and
support
the
contributions of older people to society (e.g. Media
campaigns, school curricula).
Intergenerational understanding is encouraged
through the following activities in the school
curriculum:
•Students´ visits to adult day care centres or
residential homes,
•Older persons´ visits to schools and
•Organisation of common recreational activities
between students and older persons.
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The curriculum of our school includes a module
for elderly people: 98 hours of theory and 280
hours clinical practice.
The Cultural Services (Ministry of Education and
Culture) provide older persons with the services
presented below:
reduced tickets for all events organised by the
Cultural Services,
monthly ex gratia allowance for creators of over 63
years old poets, novelists, actors, musicians etc) who
require financial support and
annual honorary grant for creators (poets, novelists,
actors musicians etc) of over 63 years old who have
accomplished an invaluable contribution in the
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domain of culture.
• Cyprus encourages the participation
of older persons in society, culture,
and economy.
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• Long-term care is the right of every
resident, who is unable to secure is by
own means. For eligible persons, this care
is provided directly by the Social Welfare
Services, NGOs, local authorities and
private institutions with state financing.
Long-term care services include home
care, day care and residential care. The
following care services and support
schemes are provided for older persons
with the aim of enhancing their quality of
life and participation in social life.
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Home care
• It includes home cleaning, help in personal
hygiene, shopping, reading of newspaper etc.
Day care
• Day Care Centres for Adults may offer
breakfast, lunch, laundry services and a range
of activities such as handcrafting, cooking,
discussion groups, excursions, group games
etc.
Residential care
• Residential homes for older persons provide
accommodation, care and activities for
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residents.
Subsidisation of Holidays for Older Persons
and Persons with Disabilities Scheme
• Persons 63 years of age or older who are
public assistance beneficiaries are eligible for
holiday allowance which covers hotel
accommodation in Cyprus for a specified
period throughout the year.
Self-Employment Scheme for Older Persons
• The scheme aims to encourage selfemployment in persons 63 of age or older
(e.g. In handcrafting, writing, drawing etc)
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In the area of education, the Adult Education
Centres (Ministry of Education and Culture)
implement the following programmes:
• Special educational programmes
Within the general government policy for
lifelong learning, Adult Education Centres
provide free educational programmes for
persons aged 65 and over. Programmes cover
a wide array of subject areas.
• Lectures
The Adult Education Centres in cooperation
with schools offer a series of lectures for
older persons.
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• Social card
The Social Card is granted to all persons
aged 63 years and over. It entitles them to
attend social and cultural events and enjoy
several benefits such as free transportation
by bus in rural and urban areas.
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• Policies and programmes have been
adopted to improve the housing and
living environment of older persons
especially in rural areas:
• Persons who cannot secure their basic and
special needs (including accommodation
and hygiene utilities) are entitled to public
assistance. Furthermore, the following
schemes aim to improve older persons´
living conditions.
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• Scheme for the Improvement of Housing
Conditions
This is a scheme which aims to improve the
living conditions of public assistance
recipients or persons who would be eligible
for public assistance should rent be added in
their special needs. The scheme provides for
house repairs and house extensions.
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• Family Support Scheme for the Informal
Care of their Elderly and Disabled
Members
This scheme aims to promote independence
and prevent institutionalisation. It provides
financial support to individuals and families
who provide care and accommodation to a
family member or a friend for the following
purposes: house extensions or house
adjustments or purchase of house equipment
necessary for the beneficiary (e.g. Special
bed/mattress)
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• Scheme of Incentives for Co-habitation of first
degree Family Members
This scheme targets low-income parents living
alone (irrespective of age). It provides financial
support for house extensions with an aim to
facilitate parents who wish to co-habit with their
children provided that the parents or the
children own the house where the parent(s)
intend to reside.
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• The Government encourages the
development of care services on a local level
to support families for reconciling work and
family life and older persons to remain in
their communities for as long as possible.
Through the Grants-in-Aid Scheme, the
government subsidises social care services
(e.g. Childcare, home care, day care and
residential care), run by Community
Volunteerism Councils and voluntary
organisations, especially in disadvantaged or
remote communities.
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• Older persons tend to spare more time in
volunteerism. They usually engage in
voluntary sector decision making
processes as board members in voluntary
organisations.
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Cyprus has taken several steps to achieve a
sufficient income for all older persons:
•Old-age pension
All employed and self-employed persons are
compulsorily insured under the Social
Insurance Scheme. Upon reaching the age of
65, they are entitled to old-age pension
provided they satisfy the relevant contribution
conditions. However, entitlement may
commence at the age of 63 for persons who
have completed a period of insurance specified
in the legislation.
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Widow´s pension
• Widow´s pension is payable to a widow of
an insured persons who, at the time of his
death, was a beneficiary of old-age
pension or satisfied the contribution
condition for the payment of old-age
pension and at the time of his death she
was living with him or was wholly or
mainly maintained by him.
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Social pension
• This pension is financed by general
taxation and is paid to persons who have
completed the age of 65 and are not
entitled to a pension from any other
source.
Special Allowance
• A special allowance is payable to every
pensioner with an annual pension income
not exceeding CYP6,500 without any test
of income from employment or other
sources.
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Public assistance
• Public Assistance ensures the right to a
decent standard of living through the
provision of financial assistance and/or
social services to persons, whose resources
are not sufficient to meet their basic and
special needs as determined by legislation.
Social Card
• What policies has it adopted to address on
time the needs of older persons for a variety
of social and health services, including
sheltered housing and long-term care
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Some other steps Cyprus has taken to develop a
regulatory framework for occupational and private
pension provision are:
•The Government employees Pension Scheme
The Government Employees Pension Scheme provides
supplementary retirement and servivors´ pensions for
permanent civil servants and members of the
educational service, the police and the armed forces.
•The Semi-government Employees Pension Schemes
The Semi-government Employees Pension Schemes
provide supplementary pensions to the permanent
employees of the publicly utility corporations of local
authorities and of other public law authorities.
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Home care
It aims to support vulnerable groups of
people in order to enable them:
•To live at home
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Home care
•To develop their personal skills
•Support the family unit accommodate the
family`s elderly members.
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Home care service provides
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Personal hygiene
House cleaning
Washing clothes
Cooking
Payment of bills
Shopping e.t.c.
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Day care
• It offers the elderly the opportunity to live
at home for as long as possible.
Residential care:
• Is provided to people where their
individual needs can not be met on a 24
hours basis by their family or others
supporting services.
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• The SWS are responsible for the
registration and supervision of
the
privately
owned
and
community residential Homes for
elders.
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