Vieillesse et recherche sur la vieillesse en Suisse – Version digitale (245 pages)

In Europe, people are living longer and in better health than ever before (Jagger et al, 2011). The rise of multigeneration societies has created the potential for unprecedented forms of exclusion and discrimination that are intertwined with age, giving rise to new images of ageing and old age and to different attitudes towards old age among older and younger persons.Yet it would be unwise to conceive of ageing per se as a cause of exclusion. In fact, the problem of social exclusion based on age may take different forms in different countries, reflecting their diverse age profiles and expectations as well as differing cultural orientations to age.The very complexity of these differences calls for a reconsideration of the application of distributive justice and highlights the need for a human rights-based approach that includes the old and very old. In this chapter, we argue that the promotion of social inclusion – with a sustainable governance system – through the allocation of equal rights to people of all ages represents an important element of a ‘society for all ages’ (UNECE, 2008).

The European Commission (2000) regards ‘discrimination’ as being the application of different treatment in a negative and unfavourable way, on the basis of race or origin, ethnicity, religion or convictions, handicap, age, or sexual orientation. In addressing the theme of social exclusion based on age discrimination in Europe, this chapter begins with a review of core processes of discrimination and exclusion based on old age, such as ageism, stigmatisation and stereotyping.Where appropriate,recent European data are presented to illuminate these processes.The chapter then evaluates a range of existing policy responses to age discrimination and exclusion in the form of legislative instruments available in European nations. Extending the lens beyond Europe, the focus then moves towards a variety of mechanisms and programmes initiated by the United Nations (UN) in the field of older persons’ human rights.

Geriatrie medicine in the 700-year-old Swiss confederation has a relatively short past, but yet is extremely important in the global evolution of this discipline. ActuaIly, two outstanding physicians have contributed to the development of geriatries in Switzerland: F. Verzar (1886-1979) and J. P. Junod (1930-1985). F. Verzar was the first to state the principles and to emphasize the necessity of fundamental research in gerontology (Verzar, 1977). Later, J. P. Junod devel- oped a comprehensive new approach for care based on the bio-psycho-social, environmental, cultural, and emotional features of the elderly patient; this concept requires the multidisciplinary collaboration of health professionals trained in complementary specialities (Martin & Junod, 1983).

What then remains in 1991 of the geriatrie work of these two Swiss pioneers? The answer lies in the appraisal of the health systems, their dynamics, constraints, and outcomes. It also rests on the inventory of clinical and fundamental researches recently carried out in Switzerland, as weIl as on the review of programs of acti vities in gerontology.