Cenie presents the guide to intergenerationality

• The General Foundation of the University of Salamanca, through the International Centre on Aging (CENIE), has organised the reflection session between different multidisciplinary experts, with the aim of illuminating the way to turn intergenerationality into one of the basic pillars of the new social construction that long-lived societies require.
• The guide was presented at the headquarters of the Spanish Economic and Social Council (CES) and was opened by Antón Costas, President of the CES, who highlighted the value of longevity "because of the new opportunities to be explored, the needs and rights to care that it brings, together with the idea of intergenerationality, given that four generations will live together, which is fundamental for the progress of today's society".

^{Eleonora Barone, author and main researcher of the guide and CEO of mYmO; Irene Lebrusán, Dr. in Sociology and CENIE researcher; Óscar González Benito, Director of the General Foundation of the University of Salamanca; Antón Costas, President of the Economic and Social Council of Spain (CES); Paloma Navas, specialist in preventive medicine and preventive physician at El Escorial Hospital; Paz Martín, architect; and Pablo Antonio Muñoz Gallego, Professor at the University of Salamanca and CENIE researcher, during the presentation of the 'Guide to Intergenerationality: turning the challenges of long-lived societies into opportunities'.}

CENIE (International Centre on Aging), an entity that depends on the General Foundation of the University of Salamanca, has presented the 'Guide for Intergenerationality: Turning the challenges of long-lived societies into opportunities', a research carried out within the framework of the "programme for a long-lived society", co-financed by the Interreg Programme, Spain-Portugal, POCTEP, 2014-2020, of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and which has been carried out by the consultancy firm mYmO, at the request of CENIE, in which some of the most prestigious voices in our country in the field of the study and implementation of intergenerationality policies have collaborated.

The presentation of this guide took place at the headquarters of the Economic and Social Council of Spain (CES) and was opened by its President, Antón Costas, who acknowledged that "the increase in life expectancy since the second half of the 20th century is the greatest achievement of humanity. We have to preserve it, extending it to all social groups, regardless of their "postcode" where they live, so that they can benefit from this social progress and avoiding that economic crises such as the 2008 or the COVID-19 crisis can set back this achievement, especially for fragile social groups".

Furthermore, Costas stated that "life expectancy in good health appears as the most important lever when measuring the factors that determine the capacity of societies to increase efficiency in the generation of well-being. Its impact is greater than the other factors analysed: per capita income, social support, freedom of choice, absence of corruption and generosity. Populations with healthier lives are those that make better use of the resources available to a society. We need to invest more in health not only because it has a greater impact on the well-being of the population, but also because it contributes to a more efficient use of the resources on which well-being depends. And, especially, investing in children.

For his part, Óscar González Benito, Director of the General Foundation of the University of Salamanca, who accompanied the President of the ESC at the opening, assured that "we have developed the CENIE to address all the challenges of the demographic transition, given that we are living longer. We are the International Centre on Ageing, but we have escaped all the negative connotations of ageing. Through the "New Longer Societies" project, we promote all the positive aspects and connotations of increasing life expectancy. We think in terms of opportunities and not threats. The challenges are important, but we have to learn to live with the new demographic structure that is intergenerationality.

The constant growth not only in life expectancy, but also in the length of life, is the reason why, for the first time in history, five different generations coincide in the same space of time. "Our society is more multigenerational than ever, and we therefore consider it essential to contribute to a better understanding of what this means, which is the main objective of the Guide to Intergenerationality. Thanks to it, in addition to correctly defining what we must understand today by intergenerationality, it helps us to analyse the opportunities and identify the keys, tools and intergenerational standards, for its direct application in the different areas of action that CENIE has", stated Eleonora Barone, author and main researcher of the guide and CEO of mYmO during the first round table discussion, entitled "Guide for Intergenerationality: stimulating the debate in society".

The round table, which was moderated by Irene Lebrusán, Dr. in Sociology and researcher at CENIE, who stated that "the fact that we are living longer and in better physical and health conditions means that we want to and can continue to form part of society and contribute for much longer. The increase in life expectancy is the great advance of our societies, which means that people of very different ages are living together for longer; we are not taking advantage of the potential of this new reality. Older people want to play more active and participative roles and can contribute a great deal of wealth in all dimensions".

For her part, architect Paz Martín acknowledged that "it has been proven that a defective or badly designed habitat favours isolation, segregation and unwanted loneliness, reduces participation and rootedness, deteriorates our health and reduces our life expectancy, affecting us all equally and especially the elderly".

Martín adds: "That is why the great challenge for the disciplines of architecture and urban planning in the coming years, as those responsible for the creation of the spaces we inhabit - cities, public spaces, housing, public facilities - will be to make a major paradigm shift that puts people and their quality of life at the centre of its focus, in order to create inclusive environments that favour social interaction, anticipating the real characteristics and needs of this heterogeneous long-lived society, and to provide innovative solutions that are up to the task".

Paloma Navas, a specialist in preventive medicine and preventive physician at El Escorial Hospital, also took part in the debate as a speaker and pointed out that: "While in the 1990s infectious diseases were predominant, in the world of 2023 chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes are the leading causes of illness, disability and death in the world. This shift in health needs from acute to chronic has been met by health systems capable of responding in minutes to a heart attack or pneumonia, but not at all designed for cognitive impairment or degenerative disease. And this is therefore the first challenge of ageing and health: that we redesign health systems so that they adapt to the reality of the society they treat. An inadequate design of health systems translates into great inefficiency and therefore high costs.

Navas added: "Therefore, the first key to building the society of the future is to destroy the myth that older people are a risk to the sustainability of the health system. Not only is the mantra of some managers, health professionals and political decision-makers to blame older people for a high consumption of health resources and therefore being a threat to the sustainability of health systems fallacious, but these statements also go against bioethics and the most basic concept of solidarity, values and human rights".

The guide brings together the points of view and opinions of people from a wide range of fields, including academics such as María Luisa Forniés Arranz, Naiara Fernández Gutiérrez, Paloma Navas Gutiérrez, Francisco Olavarría Ramos and Matxalen Acasuso Atutxa; teachers such as Mariano Sánchez Martínez, José Antonio Herce San Miguel, Sacramento Pinazo-Hernandis, Ignacio Chato Gonzalo, Cristina Montes Pastrana and Paz Martín Rodríguez; researchers such as Eduardo Madinaveitia Madinaveitia, Ignacio Chato Gonzalo, Cristina Montes Pastrana and Paz Martín Rodríguez; researchers such as Eduardo Madinaveitia Foronda, and entrepreneurs such as Alfonso Basco Garrido-Lestache, Iñaki Bartolomé Martín, Beatriz Roca Albertos, Marta Sanz Massa, Meritxell Valls Martí, Beatriz Santamaría Trincado, Marichu Calvo de Mora González and Pedro Pomares Abad; who have contributed to projecting a critical view of the negative cultural, ideological and social conventions associated with age.

Through their active participation in society and the economy, older people are confronted with numerous prejudices and legal restrictions. Society theoretically respects older people, reserves certain privileges for them - such as subsidised transport passes - but also segregates them from productive activities and keeps them out of many social tasks. Therefore, the guide aims to identify responses that help to establish a model of quality of life for older people in the context of an inclusive, inclusive and economically sustainable society, especially in terms of social rights.

In order to provide the guide with a multidisciplinary perspective, institutional, business and social representatives participated in the second round table discussion entitled: "Perception of intergenerationality from public institutions and private enterprise", which on this occasion was moderated by the professor of the University of Salamanca and CENIE researcher, Pablo Antonio Muñoz Gallego, who stressed that "it is necessary to put the spotlight on when we talk about intergenerationality. The elderly have advantageous situations in some issues: pressure on parties and administrations as the elderly are a more relevant and growing percentage of the population, higher income and financial capacity, ownership of a home, certainty about the pensions they will receive at the end of their working life. And on the other hand, young people have advantages over older people in terms of the use of technology, new knowledge, and a predisposition to training and entrepreneurship, for example".

Muñoz Gallego adds: "Families, society and companies need to explore and exploit the new frameworks for relations between generations so that we can all have access to greater levels of well-being. A common rule of the game for this social contract must be transparency, so that everyone can make their own decisions for societies with increasing life expectancy.

María del Mar Arnáiz, senator and member of the Senate Social Rights Committee, stressed in her speech that "it is necessary to shape an intergenerational society where there are opportunities to live with dignity at all stages of life". Furthermore, she assured that "it is a question of building a society for all ages where we all have our rights guaranteed. This reality requires new responses, new public policies and new models of social organisation".

Gonzalo Berzosa, member of the CEOMA Training Commission, in his speech on behalf of the elderly, stated that "Longevity, living many years, is a social conquest. All our ancestors have fought to achieve it and now that we have achieved it, it is sometimes seen as a problem. But it is not, because the model of being an older person today has also changed, and the organisations for older people demonstrate this by acting in two different and complementary areas: one, promoting personal wellbeing and quality of life through active ageing, and the other promoting social presence through solidarity and community commitment. This leads us to maintain intergenerational relations, which is an opportunity to overcome ageism".

Andrea González Henry, President of the Spanish Youth Council, also took the floor to offer a vision of the other side of intergenerationality: young people. González Henry considers that: "We are tired of creating a narrative that pits generations against each other, which is not true, young people are living in a totally precarious economic situation, we need measures to improve our situation, which is not at odds with the fact that older people also need to have their needs covered. We are not a generation that will live "in the future", we are living now and our problems have to be solved now.

_{Andrea González Henry, President of the Spanish Youth Council; Gonzalo Berzosa, member of the CEOMA Training Commission; María del Mar Arnáiz, Senator and member of the Senate Social Rights Commission and Pablo Antonio Muñoz Gallego, Professor at the University of Salamanca and CENIE researcher.}

Intergenerationality as a lever for change

The presentation of the guide has served to address the new scenarios derived from the increase in life expectancy, as among all the levers that make possible the change in the perception of longevity, intergenerationality plays a key role, as it is a fundamental tool for converting the challenges of long-lived societies into opportunities.

Guide's objectives

In addition to presenting research on the new demographic context at national and international level, the preparation of this guide aims to be able to correctly define what we should understand today by intergenerationality; as well as to establish clear guidelines when carrying out any action of an intergenerational nature. It also aims to identify the fundamental sources of information and training to acquire competences in intergenerational practices, and finally, it analyses the opportunities from the point of view of identifying intergenerational keys, tools and standards that can have a direct application in different areas of intervention of CENIE: Intergenerational Partnerships; Financial Capacity; Health and Physical Capacity; Labour Cycle; Culture; Education; Habitats; Participation and Volunteering.

In all these areas identified as fields of action by CENIE, different research is already being carried out through the experimental initiative "Together we give more life to Zamora", in which the pioneering projects on longevity are being developed, which allow us to rethink the state of well-being of our future lives; likewise, studies are being associated with the economic impact linked to each of these themes and formulating a necessary change of narrative that helps to overcome the perception, fed by prejudices, that today define them.

Decalogue

Among the data highlighted, the experts emphasise the Decalogue included in the guide:

1.- The increasing extension of life spans is the reason why, for the first time in the history of our species, no less than five different generations, each of them widely represented, coincide in the same space of time. Our society is more multi-generational and multi-ethnic than ever before.

But this circumstance is by no means a guarantee of interaction, exchange and collaboration between generations. Something much more dynamic and profound is required for the cohabitation of several generations to result in a genuine exercise in mutual learning and progress. Therein lies the need and the meaning of Intergenerationality.

3.- Intergenerational programmes and projects enable experiences of relationship and cooperation between people of different ages through the transmission and joint and active experience of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values.

An intergenerational society is richer and more capable; it is based on responsibility and common effort; and, therefore, it is forged as a more cohesive, resilient community, capable of facing any of the transformations of its environment, as it is based on the experience and disposition of all its members.

Intergenerationality places citizenship at the very heart of its action. It is its method and its goal, thanks to the strengthening of social capital encouraged by the contribution of a relationship between people based on the principles of respect, listening, cooperation and shared achievements based on gratuity and voluntariness.

Intergenerationality is the best antidote against the fierce individualism that isolates, separates and impoverishes us. Against any form of segregation or discrimination, whether by age, social or economic status, geographical origin or false cultural, ideological or social conventions.

7.- Only societies based on inclusion, on equal rights and duties of citizens can legitimately aspire to be fairer and more united. They are stronger because they are based on the civic spirit of their members, on the awareness and consciousness of their responsibilities. And on the extraordinary power of intelligence and innovation.

8.- Intergenerational actions are not based on the basic scheme of any transaction - one does not teach and another receives - but on win-win for all; on an authentic mutuality, where all recognise their obligations and become aware of their contributions and achievements.

9.- Intergenerationality supposes the implementation of a prolonged and sustainable action, the result not only of will or desire, but of rigorous planning, of a constant training and information process, of full participation of all its participants, including the essential exercise of measuring and evaluating the results. Intergenerationality is never an individual task, but a permanently shared one.

10.- The intergenerational dynamic enables the incorporation of older people into the same, enriching their self-esteem, the valuing of their knowledge and experiences, at the same time as it dissolves the differences or stereotypes that can separate or confront the generations and provides them with a vital and social sense, psychological well-being and a substantial improvement in their quality of life.

Conclusions of the guide

Faced with the new reality of long-lived societies, derived from the increase in life expectancy, intergenerationality must be an issue present throughout all stages. This guide helps to conceptualise intergenerationality as a concept, and thus to be able to face all the challenges it poses in today's society. At the same time, it carries with it a purpose of change, improvement, modification of aspects of the new longevity, as it offers the opportunity to reformulate our narratives around the last stage of life through a common learning process.

Intergenerationality must be understood as a cross-cutting aspect for the whole of society, because, although it is true that society has always been multigenerational, intergenerationality brings with it a new perspective. It does not merely consist of physical coexistence, but involves the creation of relationships and interlocutions between all the new societies. In this sense, the key is not to work together, but to work better.

It is therefore essential to raise awareness and sensitise citizens to the profound change that the new long-lived societies entail, and that intergenerationality allows our society to continue to aspire to a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable future.

With the aim of introducing an intergenerational perspective with a more inclusive vision, it is the task of public administrations to correct policies that are biased by age criteria and to focus the action of the Administration from a perspective that involves everyone in the same way.

Likewise, new intergenerational projects need a new approach and require the creation of new methodologies; more relational, more responsible in the use of economic resources and more innovative.

About CENIE

CENIE, International Centre on Ageing, is an organisation promoted by the General Foundation of the University of Salamanca together with the General Foundation of the Spanish National Research Council, the General Directorate of Health and the University of the Algarve.

The presentation of the 'Guide for Intergenerationality' is part of the New Long-Lived Societies project, following the lines of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), through the Interreg Programme, Spain-Portugal, (POCTEP), 2021-2027.

This conference is part of the series Notes for a Longevity Society, which aims to lay the scientific foundations and be the starting point for future CENIE research, which will contribute to rethinking the Welfare State in the new longevity societies.

The International Centre on Ageing is a positive response to a socio-demographic reality that has to face new challenges and opportunities. To this end, it promotes research programmes, encourages actions that favour a change in the perception of older people and develops training and information programmes.

It works to consolidate itself as a centre of international reference, promoting research and innovation through leadership and the generation of knowledge. It also promotes collaboration between companies and the academic world with the intention of multiplying the benefits of public and private investment.

It is time to change our attitude towards ageing, and instead of moving forward by improvising, to promote strategies on how to better optimise the additional decades of life that humanity has achieved through its advances. In this way we can help people to live longer, more active and independent lives, and also contribute to making better use of the opportunities inherent in a rapidly changing society.

 

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