Small actions, big savings
Reducing diabetes, preventing falls, and preventing dementia is possible with minimal home adjustments, physical activity programs, and accessible technology. This is stated by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in its study “The longevity dividend”.
The report estimates that shifting policies toward prevention would free up $6.4 trillion globally. These resources today are used to treat diseases that could be avoided.
Concrete strategies
To prevent falls, experts recommend grab bars and lighting on stairs. With an investment of less than 400 billion dollars, almost 400 million falls would be avoided by 2040. This would generate more than 5 trillion in health savings.
In diabetes, community physical activity programs could stop 8.5 million cases of type 2 diabetes by 2040. The cost per person ranges between one and 40 dollars, and the gains in productivity would exceed 125 billion.
Hearing loss has a direct link to dementia. Expanding access to hearing aids would prevent 2.4 million cases of dementia and save more than 325 billion in health.
Economic benefits
The study, applied in 21 countries by the WEF and Marsh, indicates that companies and governments address health, finances and work separately. If integrated, they would unlock 5.8 trillion in healthcare savings and 645 billion in productivity gains.
“Poor health strains health systems and personal finances, affecting financial resilience and generating broader economic costs,” the report warns.
Impact on women
A relevant fact: women who dedicate a year to care work see their retirement savings reduced by 24% due to absence from work and the wage gap. Institutions often treat these problems separately, despite their consequences.
The WEF concludes that there is a window of opportunity to align health, finance and employment policies. The key: allocate budgets to prevention and care for the elderly population with public-private collaboration.




