An investment scheme aims to build structures for elderly people to keep them playing an active role in society and live as healthy and fulfilling lives as possible.
Senior Plus: Keeping elderly people healthy and active in society
- 15 July 2015
We saw [this project’s] implementation as being an opportunity to value the elder generation’s contribution to society. They brought up their children, now they are taking care of their grandchildren. Through this work, they allow the parents to work, thereby contributing to the state budget and promoting family values. [Our initiatives] help elder citizens to spend the autumn of their lives as actively as possible.
This project can be split into two broad aims. The first is to directly impact senior citizens through organising cultural activities as part of the Active Plus programme and promoting senior passes (e.g. Active Plus card) for Lower Austrian seniors in the Czech Republic. The second aim is to assist social services that aid seniors in exchanging experiences, promoting good practices (with examples drawn from education, health and active lifestyles) and partaking in public relations events.
Growing elderly population
Lower Austria is home to more than 1.5 million people, making it the second most densely populated region in Austria. For this reason, many local services want to encourage seniors’ active participation in society for as long as possible and keep seniors from being stereotyped and marginalised.
This initiative was conducted by two partners from Lower Austria: Amt der NÖ Landesregierung and IMC FH Krems. The Vysočina region in Czech Republic was the submitter and lead partner of the project and co-operated with the aforementioned partners from Lower Austria. The project has a minimum five-year sustainability.
Encouraging contributions of older generations
Throughout the project’s implementation, a concept of an active senior policy for the Vysočina Region was developed. After receiving positive feedback from pre-senior and senior-aged people, project leaders were encouraged to continue pursuing other activities aimed at the 55+ generation. One project milestone was the introduction of life-long learning activities at the Senior Academy Jilhava and the Senior University at IMC FH Krems.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Senior Plus” is EUR 603 124, of which the EU’s European Regional Development Fund is contributing EUR 450 510 from the Operational Programme “Austria – Czech Republic” for the 2007 to 2013 programming period.