Life & Aging

We examine trends shaping Swiss society’s lifestyle and aging, comparing them globally and offering insights on shared questions and issues.

Why it’s so hard to be a working woman in Switzerland

Photo of a woman in front of a desk with lego in front of her

This content was published on Mar 20, 2025 Despite Switzerland’s high wages, working conditions for women remain among the worst in the OECD.

Our editor’s picks

After the first ‘Sarco pod’ death, will Switzerland introduce stricter rules for assisted suicide?

This content was published on Feb 6, 2025 The first death to come about using the Sarco capsule has reignited debate on whether assisted dying should be more tightly regulated in Switzerland.

"It is impossible to fully go back, neither physically nor as a person," says Chris/Nadia Brönimann.

Switzerland’s most renowned trans person no longer wants to be a woman

This content was published on Jan 12, 2025 Chris Brönimann became Nadia just before the turn of the millennium. Now Switzerland’s most famous transgender figure is publicly grappling with regret over that choice.

Growing old in Switzerland

The living conditions and infrastructure for older people in Switzerland are good, including the social and pension system. However, the latter is coming under increasing pressure: while life expectancy has risen significantly in recent decades, there have only been minor changes in the retirement age.

Community corner: latest debates and surveys on Life & Aging

Bodycams: essential for good law enforcement, or a privacy risk?

Did you ever come across bodycams in your place of residence and if so, how do you think the use of bodycams alter the relationship between the public and (transport) police?

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Aug 20, 2024

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25 Comments

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Latest content of Life & Aging

Covid-19: Daniel Koch recalls the role of the Federal Council

Five years after Covid lockdown, former Swiss health advisor looks back on crisis

This content was published on Mar 16, 2025 Daniel Koch, former head of communicable diseases at the Federal Office of Public Health, recalls the key role played by the Swiss government during the Covid-19 crisis.

Swiss-British author Diccon Bewes dead at 57

This content was published on Mar 15, 2025 The author of the bestseller Swiss Watching and former member of SWI swissinfo.ch’s Public Council, Diccon Bewes, died on March 11 after a battle with cancer.

Nearly one in two bicycles sold in Switzerland is an e-bike

This content was published on Mar 15, 2025 In 2024, almost every second bicycle sold in Switzerland was an e-bike. Overall, around 14% fewer bikes were sold than in the previous year.

Topic focus: Assisted suicide in Switzerland

Why assisted suicide is ‘normal’ in Switzerland

In Switzerland, assisted suicide is considered a legitimate way to end your life.

To what extent do you think assisted suicide should be a legally available option to those who want to end their lives?

Switzerland legalised assisted suicide in the 1940s. More than 1,000 seriously ill or disabled people end their lives with the help of suicide assistants in Switzerland each year.

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Dec 2, 2021

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A Swiss hospice where people can die with dignity

This content was published on Dec 12, 2023 Many people want to spend their last days at home. “La Maison de Tara” in Geneva offers an alternative to hospitalisation.

Sarco, the 3D-printed suicide pod, was presented in Switzerland for the first time on July 17 in Zurich.

Why liberal Switzerland is opposed to the Sarco suicide capsule

This content was published on Jul 27, 2024 The media hype is huge. Swiss outlets have been reporting on the Sarco suicide capsule for almost all of July. However, cantonal authorities are putting up resistance.

A nurse holding the hand of an elderly woman in a nursing home.

Assisted suicide: death with dignity or ethical dilemma?

This content was published on Jul 29, 2024 Assisted suicide is considered a controversial and personal topic. Does it mean death with dignity, or does it inevitably lead to an ethical dilemma?

Actor Tilda Swinton in a scene from The Room Next Door.

How film and literature have influenced the acceptance of assisted suicide

This content was published on Jan 6, 2025 Powerful stories of assisted dying are etched in our collective memory. Now, a research project from Switzerland is gathering artistic works on the subject.

After the first ‘Sarco pod’ death, will Switzerland introduce stricter rules for assisted suicide?

This content was published on Feb 6, 2025 The first death to come about using the Sarco capsule has reignited debate on whether assisted dying should be more tightly regulated in Switzerland.

Detail view of a thousand Swiss franc note

Switzerland no longer wants to foot the bill for ‘suicide tourism’

This content was published on Feb 21, 2025 In Switzerland, all deaths through assisted suicide must be followed by a medical and legal investigation. This entails considerable costs for the state.

More content on Life & Aging

61-year-old suspect arrested in parcel bomb case

Swiss man arrested over Geneva parcel bomb attacks

This content was published on Mar 12, 2025 A 61-year-old Swiss man was arrested in Geneva in connection with the parcel bomb incidents that left a man and a 12-year-old girl seriously injured.

Abbot of Saint-Maurice Abbey back in office after walkout

Swiss abbot resumes role following abuse investigation

This content was published on Mar 12, 2025 Scarcella was accused in the Catholic Church abuse scandal last autumn. In October 2024, the Vatican declared there was no evidence of abuse or harassment against him.

Platform X briefly "down" worldwide due to a malfunction

X platform outages hit Switzerland

This content was published on Mar 10, 2025 Malfunctions led to a worldwide outage of the social media platform X several times on Monday, affecting users in Switzerland and elsewhere.

Federal Supreme Court approves appeal against asbestos ruling

Top Swiss court approves appeal against asbestos ruling

This content was published on Mar 10, 2025 The Glarus high court must re-examine an asbestos case, after the Federal Court approved the request for a revision of its decision by the family of Marcel Jann.

Singer-songwriter Zoë Më of Fribourg, Switzerland

Swiss singer Zoë Më unveils song ‘Voyage’ for 2025 Eurovision contest

This content was published on Mar 10, 2025 Singer-songwriter Zoë Më, who will represent Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, unveiled her ballad Voyage on Monday.

Basel plunges into the three-day carnival with a mild morning prank

Basel carnival kicks off with early morning march

This content was published on Mar 10, 2025 At the stroke of 4am on Monday, the street lights went out in Basel’s city center for the carnival kick-off, known as Morgenstreich.

Flights cancelled in Switzerland due to strike in Germany

Over 100 flights cancelled in Switzerland due to strikes in Germany

This content was published on Mar 10, 2025 Due to strikes at airports in Germany, 66 flights at Zurich airport and 14 flights in Geneva were cancelled on Monday.

Elisabeth Baume-Schneider reassures about the threat of fentanyl

Switzerland has no US-style fentanyl problem, says health minister

This content was published on Mar 6, 2025 There is very little chance of a US-sized fentanyl epidemic in Switzerland, says health minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider.