It affects at least 1.4 million people in Hungary, and we don’t even have a word for it

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 03. 03. 10:43

Hungarian society is aging and is not prepared for this process. The proportion of people over 50 already exceeds 40 percent, but most of them do not know how to stay active before and after retirement and how to age healthily. According to two-thirds of Hungarians, health problems are an inevitable part of aging. Half of those aged 50-69 have thought of themselves as too old for certain activities, and more than a third have not even started something new due to concerns about their age, according to a joint study by the Hekate Conscious Aging Foundation and Haleon. Experts say that a self-care approach would support health preservation and help challenge stereotypes about aging.

The proportion of people over 50 in Hungary already exceeds 40%. According to experts, by 2030, every third Hungarian employee will be over 55. Although the majority of people aged 50–69 are still actively working and are expected to remain active, most of them do not have a role model for this. Nor do they have a model for how to think positively about the passage of time.

The attitudes of the Hungarian population towards aging and the effects of negative prejudices related to age (ageism) in Hungary were examined in a recent, representative survey conducted by Median in December 2024 at the request of the Hekate Conscious Aging Foundation (HCAF) and the healthcare company Haleon.

Attitudes towards aging determine later quality of life

Our thoughts and beliefs about aging affect how actively we take steps towards achieving positive aging. According to a study conducted at Yale University in 2002, those who view aging more positively can live an average of 7.5 years longer. A Hungarian survey by Conscious Aging and Haleon shows that those who view aging negatively generally expect worse future prospects, are less willing to take proactive steps for their well-being, and feel less capable of shaping them.

Two-thirds of Hungarians (69%) believe that health problems are an inevitable part of aging, and 60% believe that the process also involves regular pain. Indeed, 75% of those aged 50-69 experience occasional joint pain. However, experts say that this should not necessarily be the case at this age.