Group living arrangements for single elderly could be encouraged, he suggested, with grants of small parcels of land to raise vegetables for sale, and with the help of volunteers. In her paper, based on Australia, Ms. Coombes identified key factors that contribute to the quality of life of older persons. They include safety and security, economic vitality, access to good housing, community networks, user-friendly transport systems, clean air and water, and noise reduction. Nikolai Botev of the Economic Commission for Europe spoke about older persons in countries with economies in transition. States in Central and Eastern Europe generally have a smaller proportion of aged people than the rest of the continent.
Elderly populations are also skewed, with more than four women for each man at some ages.
Life expectancy has dropped in some of these countries and living standards are far below those in other parts of Europe and North America. Many of the region's countries have gone through shock, but without any therapy, said Vladislav Bezrukov of the Institute of Gerontology in Kiev, Ukraine. He said the elderly are living without many of the services they need. Dramatic changes have been recorded in the Russian Federation. Privatization and other new economic measures have been especially hard on the elderly, who are unable to take part in these changes, Mr. Bezrukov continued.