The newspaper said the World Bank’s research shows that only 4 percent of adult Poles have no fears about old age.
Many believe they will need support only after the age of 80, even though average life expectancy in good health in Poland is about 61 years.
Rzeczpospolita noted that most people in need of care currently remain in their own homes and rely on family members. Eighty percent of assistance for those unable to function independently is provided informally, with institutions covering just 20 percent of demand.
The daily said caregiving responsibilities usually fall on women, who are often forced to leave the labour market because they cannot combine work with caring duties.
Particularly exposed is the so-called “sandwich generation” aged 45 to 64, expected to stay economically active while also caring for both grandchildren and elderly parents.
Poland is in a phase of rapid population ageing, while the number of years lived in good health is shrinking, especially among women, the newspaper added.
Rzeczpospolita warned that the pool of informal carers will shrink as today’s caregivers themselves age, boosting demand for formal care services and driving up their costs.
(tf/gs)
Source: Rzeczpospolita, PAP