Aviva France, a major player in life insurance and long-term savings, asset management and non-life insurance, has announced the creation of the “Link between the Generations Observation Centre”.
Aviva France, a major player in life insurance and long-term savings, asset management and non-life insurance, has announced the creation of the “Link between the Generations Observation Centre”. The aim of this initiative is to make the people of France aware of the greying of the population and to encourage debate and the sharing of experience on important societal issues such as dependency, retirement, health or the transfer of assets.
According to forecasts by the INSEE, the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies, one in every three people in France will be 60 or over by 2050 and the over-75s will have doubled to account for 15.6% of the population. As a result of the greying of the population, the number of dependent elderly people, currently estimated at 1.1 million by the authorities, could increase from 40% to 50% by 2040, reaching a figure of 1.5 million.
First initiative brought in by the "Link between the Generations Observation Centre": the participatory website www.questions-generation.fr.
The aim of this website is to provide both a source of information and a forum for discussion, so as to make the people of France aware of the urgent need to find a solution to the problem of how to finance not only dependency but also pensions and health care. Dependency is, after all, a risk which can potentially affect all French people, even though it remains a distant concern for many.
Dependency, the first point of focus of the 'Link between the Generations Observation Centre'
As an insurer with 20 years' experience on the issue of dependency, Aviva has found that there is generally a link between long-term care insurance being taken out and a close relative actually becoming dependent and also that there is not enough awareness in France of this major challenge facing society.
Jean-Pierre Menanteau, CEO of Aviva France, has this to say: “We believe that it is essential that the people of France are informed and made aware of the costs involved when an elderly person loses their independence, of the proportion of the costs which the family will remain responsible for and of the possible ways of financing these future requirements.
"The purpose of the 'Link between the Generations Observation Centre' is to encourage exchanges and conversations amongst the public, to facilitate sharing of experience, to provide expert analyses, to help policymakers take specific measures aimed at promoting solidarity between the generations and to provide solutions to the problems relating to the financing of dependency, pensions and health care.
"The hope is that contributions from experts and exchanges and discussions between internet users will help www.questions-generation.fr to generate some concrete proposals for action and thus illuminate social issues.”
The www.questions-generation.fr website consists of various areas:
- An editorial area
- An area for discussion between internet users
- Tools, such as a directory of professionals in the sector, documentary sources and simulation / prediction tools
- Portraits of and accounts from people who are experiencing what it is like to lose one’s independence or encountering it on a daily basis: people who are dependent, family and professional carers, etc.
Aviva brought out its first care insurance policy in 1990 and was awarded the “Label of Excellence” by the Dossiers de l’Epargne magazine in 2009 for the third year running.
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Press contacts:
Dominique Eluau
Telephone: +33 (0)1 7662 5786
E-mail: dominique_eluau@aviva.fr
Karim Mokrane
Telephone: +33 (0)1 7662 7685
E-mail: karim_mokrane@aviva.fr
Philippe Tréguer (HDL Communication)
Telephone: +33 (0)1 5865 0073
E-mail: ptreguer@hdlcom.com
Notes to editors:
About Aviva
Aviva is the world’s fifth-largest insurance group*, with more than 53 million customers across Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region. Aviva’s principal business activities are: life insurance and long-term savings, fund management and general insurance.
As at 31 December 2009, Aviva had a total turnover of €51.3 billion, with €426 billion of assets under management. Aviva is the largest insurer in the United Kingdom and one of the leading providers of life insurance and pension products in Europe. The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes images and all the press releases and product information for the Aviva group. Videos are available at www.aviva.com/media/b-roll-library/. You can follow Aviva on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/avivaplc.
With more than 180 years’ experience in France, Aviva is among the top ten players in the insurance market. Aviva France operates a balanced multi-distribution model based on a comprehensive range of products, mainly intended for individuals and SMEs.
Some 900 general agents, 1,800 branch staff, 400 life insurance advisers, almost 900 wealth management advisers (Union Financière de France) and more than 1,000 active partner brokers are at the service of three million clients every day.
Aviva has developed unique expertise in building effective partnerships for the benefit of its clients, particularly with AFER, the largest savings association in France, and the Crédit du Nord, Société Générale and Ford groups. Specialising in unit-linked products, Aviva is recognised for the excellent performance of its long-term funds, the quality and innovation of its products, and solid commitment to its customers through its Good Advice approach.
Aviva France is a socially responsible company and has developed initiatives that include reducing and neutralising its CO2 emissions, supporting more than 250 projects to help children and the elderly through the Aviva Foundation, and implementing an acclaimed diversity policy.
The Aviva group directly employs more than 4,700 staff in France.
As at 31 December 2009, Aviva France reported consolidated sales of €6.7 billion and an IFRS-based net profit of €390 million. The company had €77.4 billion of assets under management as at 31 December 2009.
* Based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2008.