Dr Elizabeth Mestheneos, a UK trained sociologist, has worked in Greece as an independent researcher since 1988 (see www.sextant.gr) mainly in EU funded research projects e.g. family care, older workers, elder abuse, home care services, older women, chronic disease, and long term care systems; she has published widely on these subjects. She also works as an evaluator for projects on new technologies, e-health and on accessibility issues.
She is a founder member of the Greek NGO “50+ Hellas” that aims to promote the well-being of all older people through information, advocacy and research. The organization, where she is MD, has undertaken programmes concerned with lifelong learning, new technologies, the prevention of abuse, human rights and accessibility.(www.50plus.gr, in Greek) She was recently elected as Vice -President of the Hellenic Gerontological and Geriatric Association. (www.gerontology.gr).
She served as the elected President of AGE-Platform Europe 2008-2011, an umbrella organization representing 167 member organizations with over 30 million members, and in that capacity has spoken on a wide range of subjects including ICT, and the silver economy. She was elected in May 2012 as Vice President for Europe for the IFA (International Federation of Ageing).