Development of politics towards the elderly in Estonia

Abstract

The paper examines the main development in the policies related to the elderly in Estonia since 1920's to nowadays, observing the extent to which govemments in Estonia have been concemed by the changing demographic situation and related care of the elderly during this period. ll1e paper concentrates specifically on the changes in pensi on system, health care, institutional care and socia1 services, and income maintenal1ce of the elderly. Advanced population ageing and transitional economy generates sharp competition for available resources, making the implementation of population-related policies, particular1y conceming elderly, more complicated. ll1e paper also examines the legislative acts of 1990's aimed to the elderly from the viewpoint of demographic situation.