Above all, good health!

With the Covid-19 health crisis, societal issues have begun to focus on the topic of health, particularly for senior citizens. In the post-pandemic era, its importance is more relevant than ever. As time goes by and life takes its course, health is the number one concern of senior citizens, as this edition of the Observatoire Cetelem shows. However, it cannot be reduced to the healthcare services required to preserve it. It’s important to be in good health, of course, but above all to enjoy life, preferably at home, in complete independence.

A MULTI-GENERATIONAL CONCERN

As we have just seen, the future of the healthcare system is a major issue in European societies. Over and above political, financial and organisational concerns, health is by far the number one concern for Europeans of all ages. 8 out of 10 agreed that “ageing well in good health” should be their priority.

This score has risen slightly since 2016. Quite logically, senior citizens rallied en masse around this aim (91%), with younger people thinking about it less, but still thinking about it a lot.

From one country to another, the level of support for this opinion was more or less comparable. This priority was highest in France and Italy, and lowest in Poland (83% and 85% vs. 67%).

LIVING IN GOOD HEALTH: GREAT EXPECTATIONS

If we agree that the average retirement age is around 65, then the importance of good health in the future is all the greater. Seniors will have plenty of time ahead of them, but they need it to be peaceful and carefree. Healthy life expectancy shows that in the next ten years or so, there is no reason for them to give into intense hypochondria. They will be able to fully play their social and economic role, which is becoming increasingly important in European countries.

Two points are worth highlighting.

The Covid-19 health crisis has put an end, albeit temporarily, to this mechanism, leading to a lower healthy life expectancy than that observed ten years ago. The economic strength of each country, and therefore the standard of living of its inhabitants, also has a very positive influence on this parameter.

Social organisation also plays a central role, as confirmed by the higher healthy life expectancy of Swedes.

DOING MORE

To meet the challenges linked to an ever-increasing senior population, the healthcare system is a key concern. Of all the measures that need to be implemented as a matter of priority, reinforcing the healthcare system came out on top with 38% of the vote.

This was of course the primary objective of senior citizens, but also that of the under-60s (48% and 35%).

This measure was emphasized in all countries, with the exception of Germany, where adapting the pension funding system was assigned greater importance, as this is a priority in the face of one of the fastest ageing populations in Europe.

THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF HEALTHCARE

Leaving aside the Covid-19 health crisis, which naturally represented a peak in healthcare spending, this expenditure has been rising steadily over the last 10 years in most European countries.

In France, in 2024, it represented 11.5% of GDP, compared with 10% on average in Europe. Italy is one of the few countries where it is falling, with millions of Italians having given up on healthcare because of economic problems, regional differences in terms of healthcare provision and excessive waiting times. At the same time, spending related to wellbeing* represented between 8% and 10% of GDP in France, compared with around 9% in Europe (source: Global Wellness Economy Monitor 2025).

* Wellbeing real estate, mental wellbeing, physical activity, personal care and beauty, healthy eating, nutrition and weight loss, traditional and complementary medicine, wellness tourism, spas, thermal and mineral springs, public health, prevention and personalised medicine, wellbeing at work

A DIGITISED APPROACH TO SELF-CARE

Health is a key issue for the future, and the use of new technologies (telemedicine, AI, predictive medicine, etc.) will be an asset. Seniors are emphasising this by paying close attention to this technology, which will enable them to age better at home, for as long as possible.

4 out of 10 use them or are ready to use them in the near future. Romanians and Poles are particularly determined to go digital (77% and 72%). The Belgians and the French are more circumspect (32% and 33%). Might this difference be due to the relative size and efficiency of the healthcare system in these four countries?