EPALE - Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe

Almost every European country is dealing with population ageing (Eurostat, 2020). In fact, 41.7% of the EU27 population is 50 or older. For this project’s partner countries, the percent of their population that is 50 or older is as follows (Eurostat, 2022): 42% for Bulgaria, 44.9% for Germany, 39.5% for Hungary, 37.7% for Poland, 43.5% for Portugal, and 36.4% for Slovakia.

These demographic changes will impact most aspects of society and economy, from housing and healthcare to the demand for goods and services (Eurostat, 2020). Additionally, the elderly is one of the population groups that is more likely to be at risk of poverty and social exclusion partly because of healthcare expenses (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2016). Old-age exclusion “leads to inequities in choice and control, resources and relationships, and power and rights in key domains of neighbourhood and community; services, amenities and mobility; material and financial resources; social relations; socio-cultural aspects of society; and civic participation” and “implicates states, societies, communities and individuals” (Walsh et al., 2016, p. 93). Notwithstanding, it is also true that the number of older people dealing with social exclusion and poverty appears to be decreasing (Eurostat, 2020). Furthermore, when it comes to the elderly, peer mentoring is quite relevant. Not only does it, as all peer learning, prevent drop out, it aids the elderly in developing relational competences (Baschiera & De Meyer, 2016). Due to the aforementioned reasons, it is particularly pertinent to identify policies as well as good practices using peer mentoring towards active ageing to promote understanding of how they can be adapted and implemented in other countries.