2023-07-06 02:30:00
Loneliness in old age, health problems and, most recently, ever-increasing food, housing and energy costs: It is precisely these factors that unsettle Upper Austria’s seniors and cloud their view of the future. “Very few have a confident feeling when they think regarding the next twelve months. The high inflation rates not only affect those with small but also those with medium pensions,” says Josef Pühringer, former governor and chairman of the Upper Austrian Seniors’ Association.
Josef Pühringer, Provincial Chairman of the Upper Austrian Seniors’ Association
Image: VOLKER Weihbold
Since 2018, the Seniors’ Association has been conducting a representative survey together with the IMAS Institute once a year to determine the concerns of the over 60s. From May 10 to June 2, 401 pensioners answered questions from the experts in personal interviews.
Medical supplies
“We can at least see a positive turnaround: while the optimism of pensioners fell sharply in May and October last year, an upward trend can now be felt,” says Paul Eiselsberg from IMAS International. In concrete terms, this means that while in October 2022 only 15 percent of those surveyed were looking forward to the following year with confidence, the figure has now increased to 23 percent.
With an average net pension of 1470 euros, three out of four pensioners surveyed ask themselves where they can currently make savings in the household. “That is her biggest concern, closely followed by the question of long-term medical care,” says Pühringer.
While nine out of ten respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with the health care in Upper Austria, there are still a few disruptive factors that are relevant for pensioners: “It is the thinning out of medical care in rural areas that is causing concern. I would be in favor of doctors be allowed to continue working in their pension if they want to – following all, they haven’t forgotten how to be a doctor. And we need more places to study medicine to cover the demand,” says Pühringer.
Security as a concern
A third point that causes more worry lines among seniors is the safety factor – in everyday life, on the road, but also safety within the family. 66 percent of the 401 respondents stated that their goal in life was not to be alone in old age. “The Internet can create bridges, but society cannot replace it,” says Pühringer.
Some seniors are also skeptical regarding the internet, not least because of the numerous attempts at fraud, says Seniorenbund state director Franz Ebner: “Unfortunately, we cannot prevent attempts at fraud, for example scammers who pretend to be grandchildren or fake police officers on the phone. So seniors need to know how to react properly.”
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