Society and ageing: an interview with Gerard Lenstra
Recently, Healthcare Asia conducted an interview with Mr Gerard Lenstra from NOM, the Investment & Development Agency for the Northern Netherlands to discuss regarding the issue ageing in today’s society. Below is our interview with him.
1. Healthcare Asia: Can you tell me more about the work that you do on the topic of ageing?
Gerard Lenstra: For a large number of years, the Northern Netherlands region and in particular, the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) has had a strong focus on the topic of the ageing population. Not with a focus of extending the lifespan, but in particular, adding more healthy years to life. In July 2013, the European Union declared the northern region of the Netherlands to be the European reference site on research, development and implementation in the field of Active & Healthy Ageing. Within the UMCG’s research, patient care, but also education and training is a special focus on aspects related to healthy ageing. Two backbones in the Northern Netherlands research are: ERIBA and LifeLines.
ERIBA (European Institute for the Biology of Ageing) has the aim to understand the mechanisms that result in aberrant functioning of old cells and tissues in order to develop evidence-based recommendations for healthy ageing.
LifeLines is one of the world’s largest population based studies and offers a unique data and biomaterial resource to researchers worldwide. Its cohort study and biobank link information on environmental exposures, (epi)genetics, nutritional, psychological and social factors, as well as data on health care use to cover societal impact. It forms a pivotal base for important break-troughs in the screening, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of (chronic) diseases as well as in the understanding of the etiology of disease. The developed infrastructure enables to perform both large-scale and detailed epidemiological studies to gene-environmental factors in a broad range of multifactorial diseases. Only this multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach will deliver the depth of insight required to understand the origins and course of diseases.
2. HCA: In your view, what will the socio-economic implications of a rapidly ageing population be on society, particularly in countries such as Malaysia?
GL: Ageing can be seen as a result of social progress and as such not in particular a ‘problem’. Rising life expectancy is a sign of social progress. Increased prosperity and better health care contribute to higher life expectancy. Because people on average remain healthy for a longer period, aging also provides opportunities for social participation until a later age. But an ageing population also has major economic consequences. As a result of the sharp decline in the potential labor force, the labor supply will decrease significantly. At the same time the demand for labor will increase considerably, especially in health care, because elderly people will suffer from age related diseases and comorbidity. To some extent, is that also the result of ageing. Besides that, ageing has without doubt an impact on a country’s health care system.
3. HCA: How is the health sector coping with the increase of ageing population?
GL: Looking at the health sector from a cure and care perspective it is expected that there will be an increase of age related diseases, probably in the cardiovascular field an in oncology and also an increase of patients, which leads to the need of more personnel in the healthcare sector. Together with new developed therapies a significant increase of the healthcare related costs is expected. In western countries you see the effect of a decreasing workforce especially in the care. From a societal point of view there is a need for reduction of costs and a prevention approach: how to keep people healthy for a longer period of time. Worldwide (specifically in developed countries) there is a tendency for healthier food and a healthier lifestyle. Of course, a research cohort and biobank like LifeLines makes it possible to determine the effects.
Another development is a stronger focus on E-health (remote healthcare) and M-health solutions (like Quantified Self).
4. HCA: Are Malaysia and the Netherlands equipped to deal with a huge increase of elderly people? Can you elaborate?
GL: In general, the world is ageing very fast. Most countries are not prepared to support the rapidly increasing numbers of elderly people. By the year 2050, it is expected that for the first time in history, senior over the age of 60, will outnumber children under the age of 15. The United Nations report ‘World Population Ageing 2013’ elaborated that the fastest ageing countries are the developing ones. For example, in countries like Nicaragua, Mongolia and Vietnam, the number of older people will more than triple by 2050, is the expectation. Looking at the list of countries ranked by the percentage of the population aged 60 or older, you see Japan at the top with 32.0%, Netherlands at rank 21 with 23.1% and Malaysia at rank 103 with 8.3%.
From The Netherlands’ perspective it is not easy to judge if Malaysia is equipped to deal with this huge increase of elderly people. But looking at the Netherlands’ situation the government is struggling.
5. HCA: What are some of the major challenges faced by the elderly population today?
GL: As long as people remain healthy at older age, the impact is limited. They can participate in society until a higher age. But in may countries the limitations of the healthcare systems are visible. A limited number of personnel is available for an increasing patient population. In such circumstances it is inevitable that more attention is given to the ‘technique’ and treatment and just limited time to personal contact with the individual. The risk of isolation of the elderly population is significant.
6. HCA: Has the delivery of healthcare to the elderly become better in the past decade? Can you elaborate?
GL: An unequivocal answer tot this question is difficult. All countries have experienced the worldwide financial crisis, which definitely slowed down technical and economical developments. On the other hand, scientists have discovered mechanisms behind diseases and developed new and more effective treatments.
But the challenges I have addressed above, need serious attention in my opinion.
7. HCA: What are some of the age-specific issues that elderly people face?
GL: Probably co-morbidity, the occurrence of two or more chronic diseases at the same time, and the risk of isolation of elderly are age-specific issues that are probably underestimated in society.
About Gerard Lenstra
Mr. Gerard Lenstra (1964) joined NOM, the Investment & Development Agency for the Northern Netherlands in 1998, and is responsible for NOM’s Life Sciences & Health activities. NOM is a regional, government-based organization working on the enhancement of the northern region’s strengths. Within Life Sciences & Health, the Northern Netherlands focus on Healthy Ageing and NOM operates closely with the University Medical Center in Groningen and several research institutes and companies. Mr. Lenstra brings nearly 25 years of business experience with him and has worked with a variety of companies and institutions, helping them to develop coherent business strategies. By approaching issues from a different point of view, he provides them with new and creative solutions, with possibilities to join forces. He has a background in Public Administration (Economics, Political Science and Law) at the University of Twente, and in Business Administration at the Open University in the Netherlands.
