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Eurodiaconia runs a network on Healthy Ageing and Elderly Care for members to engage in policy discussions related to ageing and care for older people, feeding into Eurodiaconia's advocacy work, and to share experiences and best practice in care for older people.
In the context of demographic change Eurodiaconia has focussed on services for older people. With Members Eurodiaconia drew up a policy paper outlining the challenges members see in the field and proposing recommendations.
In 2012 a publication entitled "Ageing Well: Together" was launched which features reflections from Eurodiaconia and Heinz K. Becker MEP, recommendations and projects and services from members focusing on ensuring social inclusion for older people.
Eurodiaconia has been involved in the Coalition for the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between generations 2012 (EY2012) working for a stronger recognition of the role of social and health services in ensuring active ageing, independent living. Eurodiaconia contributed to the coalition's brochure which makes recommendations for different types of stakeholders on how to promote active ageing and intergenerational solidarity. The Roadmap provides an overview of of activities that the Coalition commit to undertaking in 2012 to ensure that all relevant stakeholders will be actively involved in the implementation of the EY2012 and the European Union will do its outmost to complement and support Member States’ actions aiming at creating an Age-Friendly European Union by 2020.
To learn more about healthy ageing and elderly care work in Eurodiaconia, please contact Laura Jones on
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Survey reveals Europeans ready for 'active ageing' |
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16 January 2012
To mark the start of the 2012 European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations, the European Commission presented a Eurobarometer survey showing that 71% of Europeans are aware that Europe's population is getting older, but only 42% are concerned about this development. The survey shows how definitions of 'young' and 'old' differ significantly across countries.
Most Europeans consider that older people play a major role in society and especially within their families (82%), in politics (71%), in the local community (70%), or in the economy (67%). Over 60% believe that we should be allowed to continue working after retirement age and one third say that they would like to work longer. Surprisingly, people closer to retirement are more likely to share this view than the younger generation.
Eurodiaconia will be working to ensure European Year activities include tackling poverty and exclusion of older people, ensuring that social and health services are able to support older people and demonstrating the value older people bring to society and their communities. This will include supporting the 2012 Coalition and organising the Healthy Ageing and Elderly Care network during April in Vienna.
For more information see our Healthy Ageing and Elderly Care pages, the European Year 2012 website or contact Laura Jones. |
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European Year 2012 for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations |
12 December 2012
The launch of the European Year 2012 for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations (EY2012) will take place at a conference held on the 17th – 19th of January 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Laura Jones will attend on behalf of Eurodiaconia as part of the Coalition. They will try to have the conference live streamed and give people the possibility to post questions online.
The main communication tool for the EY is the EY2012 website which has been translated in all official EU languages and will include relevant information for Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein. Organisations are encouraged to share their projects on this website; one will be given an award, not to portray a winner but rather to encourage the sharing of best practice. The end goal of the website is to have as many commitments from different people, organisations and governments as possible by the end of the year; this is how they will evaluate the success of the campaign. There will be press coverage working with the EU press agencies and social networking sites. Finally, they have also developed a video portraying a positive view on ageing and intergenerational solidarity of people in their 60s.
The European coalition working together for the EY2012 has grown from 18 members to 54 members and is currently working on a "Roadmap". This will lay out commitments of the members of the coalition as regards actions they will take and issues they will promote during the year. Certain activities will be featured in the document, others will be listed elsewhere.
As regards European Union actions during the Year, there will be a brochure on facts and figures on ageing and EU comparable data available in January, a Eurobarometer and country specific information on Active Ageing should be launched on the 15th of January, and at the end of the year Member States will agree on common principles on Active Ageing with a checklist ‘beyond 2012’.
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Update: WeDO project for the well-being and dignity of older people |
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12 December 2011
Eurodiaconia recently took part in the discussions on the latest draft of the WeDO project's quality framework for long term care with the project's steering group. As part of the European Coalition Eurodiaconia was invited to give input and consulted members on the draft. Discussions looked at issues such as what it means for a service to be "protective", how to develop the quality of life and empowerment aspects of the document and how to ensure active ageing is seen from a holistic perspective. A new draft of the document will be available next year for Eurodiaconia members to comment on.
The WeDO project recently launched its website. As well as information on the project, the website has a space for best practice sharing. Organisations are encouraged to submit initiaitives that relate to the principles for long term care services currently outlined in the document, such as affordable, outcome-oriented, good governance and accessible.
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AGEING IN DIGNITY: CONFERENCE CALLS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR TACKLING ELDER ABUSE |
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30 November 2011
Organised by the European Commission the conference, held on 28th November, examined what more needs to be done to protect the well-being of older people and prevent abuse. The number of elder people, particularly over the age of 80, will be growing fast over the coming decades. While most of the over-80s can be expected to live independently, a large number are likely to be dependent on help from others usually relatives or professional carers.
A number of recent studies into the prevalence of elder abuse reveal that protecting the elderly has now become an important social issue that can no longer be underestimated. A study undertaken in seven EU countries shows that 19.4% of all elderly people (aged 60 – 84) have been exposed to psychological abuse, 3.8% to financial abuse, 2.7% to physical abuse and 0.7% to sexual abuse.
Suggested actions for national governments included developing policies, action plans and improving data collection. Recommendations at EU level ranged from more effective legislation to protect the elderly against abuse, securing long term financial resources for practical projects and establishing a European research centre.
Good practice examples were also presented. Ireland set up a special section within their national government called ‘Older Persons Services’. This service has produced DVDs for care home staff, organised a public awareness campaign called ‘Open your Eyes’ and established a national research centre. The Irish government believes that elder abuse has its roots in ageism; therefore the annual ‘Say No to Ageism’ week is given a high profile.
This view is shared by Diaconia of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren (ECBB) who in 2010 started a long term campaign to emphasize that seniors are generally underestimated and overlooked by contemporary society and the media.
Cross Reach, a Eurodiaconia member from Scotland, were one of the first organisations in Scotland to address the fact that harm can and does occur in social care services, even among Christian providers. In 2007 they started a special service to protect vulnerable adults which has helped to improve awareness and recognition of harm among their staff and volunteers. |
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Conference presents plans for ageing research roadmap |
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17 November 2011
The aim of the FUTURAGE project is “to produce the definitive road map for the future of ageing research in Europe for the next 10-15 years”. The broad aims for the road map are to develop an integrated approach; promote a multi-disciplinary perspective on ageing research, and; ensure that both the research priorities and research outputs reflect the broader European goal of quality of life of citizens.
Speakers at the kick off conference in October addressed topics such as age-related inequalities, maintaining and regaining mental capacity, ageing well at home and in community environments, inclusion and participation and Biogerontology.
For the presentations, webcast and more information about the project please see here.
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013
