Greece

The simultaneous experience of rapidPopulation ageing population ageingAgeing population , deep recessionRecession and a conservative social protectionSocial protection system was behind the dramatic social adjustments during the GreekGreece, Greek bailoutBailout 2010–2018, affecting diverse categories of citizens whose later life wellbeingWellbeing was undermined. Older womenWomen older are especially vulnerable, as they were disproportionately affected by reforms. Women who retire after 2016 face abrupt and dramatic retirement ageRetirement age(s) hikes, while those who managed to retire early have already faced repeated cuts in pensions in their incomes. Their predicament is exacerbated by new obstacles and disincentivesDisincentives which discourageWorker older older workersOlder workers . To make a dire employment situation even worse, unemployment among older workersOlder workers (especially women) is especially hard to tackle. Long term careCaring, care, caregiving servicesServices provided by social protectionSocial protection are insufficient to cover demandDemand , implying the need for continued informalCaring, care, caregiving careCare informal on the part of older womenWomen older to fill gaps. Consequently, older womenWomen older have had to shoulder a large part of adjustments, but will also be called to make up for retrenchment in key areas, such as caringCaring, care, caregiving for grandchildrenGrandchildren and for elderly relatives- whilst being denied meaningful support to help their them respond. As long term developments unfold over the next decade, these gaps will deepen and the social predicament of older GreekGreece, Greek women will be more pressing.