Exploring the synergy between promoting active participation in work and in society and social, health and long-term care strategies

The purpose of this study is to provide information that can help the Commission and EU Member
States engage in policy discussion on how social, health and long-term care systems can help enhance
participation in work and family, social and community activities and how, in turn, participation in
paid employment, family, social and community activities can contribute to healthy and autonomous
living at present and in the future.
Part I presents a review of the literature on the synergy between health and activity/work. Health
affects work and social participation but on the other side work and activity affect health. We focus on
people aged 55 and over as this interrelation (double causality) seems to be significant for important
life events (retirement decision, social participation, etc.) of this age group.
Part II presents a quantitative analysis and tries to identify national specificities. It presents the lessons
which we can draw from European surveys. It presents a quantitative analysis based on the LFS, the
EU-SILC, the ECHP UDB and SHARE surveys.
The fourth step summarises national policies and gives a comparative analysis, while the fifth step
presents the best practices.
Finally, the last part summarises the main conclusions and the policy implications.