1. Getting old in Budapest
Zsuzsanna Kravalik, MPA
Studio Metropolitana, Budapest
Getting old in Budapest
URB-Health project Bratislava, 31st of May 2006 Peer Review Workshop

2. Elderly people in a metropolis Policy recommendations and initiatives
Urban demography
Elderly people in a metropolis
Their lives and interests
Policy recommendations and initiatives

3. Urban Demography Budapest is getting older (22% of population over 60)
Exodus of the upper-middle class
Closed communities and poverty
Sweeping semi-public spaces

4. Urban Demography II. Moderate income
For 54% less than 220 euro per month
97% has TV and refridgerator
77% has washing mashine
62% has microwave oven
69% hasn’t got a car
74% hasn’t got a hi-fi equipment
Current expenses

5. Adaptation to Budapest: 58 % of elder people like to live in the city
Got used to it, belong to it (56%)
Everything is near (12%)
Beauty of the city (12%)
Family, kinship, friends are near (11%)
Culture (9%)
Rubbish, dirt (26%)
Air pollution (25%)
High traffic (21%)
Congestion (13%)
Public safety (7%)
Financial difficulties (4%)

6. Contentment stratification
Women are more contented with sport life
Youngers (60-65) are less contented with health services and public transport
More qualified are most contented with cultural life and less contented with public lighting
Less qualified and low earners are more contented with health services
With higher income more contented with cultural life and less satisfied with public order and cleanness
Inner city habitants are more satisfied with social services, sport activities and public transportation

7. Transportation
12% of sample never leaves home, 83% never leaves home late evening (8-10pm)
20% moves out every day during the morning
Men are more mobile than women
Inner city inhabitants move out more easily at any time
Underground is the most favoured type of public transport (59% of age group thinks tube is the most convenient (46% for total))

8. Public safety
Adaptation and attention to security situation

9. Health care 24 % visit GP less than once a year
47% visit specialist less than once a year
50% of men visit GP less than once a month (31% of women)
53% of age group visit GP less than once a month
60% of people with higher qualification visit GP less than once a month

10. Attitudes towards health and social care
Nearest and personally involved services are better accepted
Only 2% plans to receive institutionalized social care, but
9% would like to receive home care in the future
GP, specialists, hospitals

11. Intergenerational transfers
Help from family members
Help for family members
Blue: transfer exists; Red: transfer doesn’t exist

12. Hobbies, free time
Most common leasure activity is walking (73% had in the previous week)
64% does no sport at all (78% of primary school leavers)
62% reads books regularly (79% with higher education)
22% wathes TV for more than 4 hours
52% reads dailies regularly
67 % hasn’t been on a vacation in the last year (especially elders and less qualified)

13. Conclusions Importance of the family
Loneliness (17% have no friends) but independence
They care more about the physical state of the environment
Significant use of public spaces for leisure activities
Necessity for more visible patrolling officers especially during daytime
Need for preventive measures in health care
Improvements for leasure time activities

14. Public policy A city friendly to elderly is a city friendly to all!
Importance of „Quality of life” measures
Importance of prevention and grass-root initiatives
Partnership
Change of attitutes necessary
„Elderly friendly self-government” responses for a state initiative

15. Thank you for your attention!