A seminar organised in Brussels on the 28 February by a group of European regions presented four projects promoting healthy and active ageing for discussion.

The Q Ageing EU-funded project aimed to support active ageing by developing a toolbox for developing action to be implemented by regional and local authorities. It aims to combat social exclusion through initiatives in the areas of public transport and urban environment. Firstly older people in the participating authorities’ areas were interviewed to better understand their concerns.

This led to four priority areas being identified: preventing isolation, making public spaces more friendly for older people, promoting age management and the senior economy and access to lifelong learning. Pilot projects were then developed, evaluated with input from NGOs and fed into the toolkit of tested solutions. Projects include training older people to train older people in the context of volunteering. This led to a group of older people independently presenting their own project for funding and setting up a competence bank for older volunteers.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it aims to improve the integration and social inclusion of older migrants in society in Sweden. It has been building a network of organisations working with older people, from religious organisations to local authorities, supporting them to develop work with older migrants. The self defined “movement” also aimed to put the issue of older migrants on the political agenda. Integration was first defined by the older people themselves through participative research, from the starting point of understanding their well being. Helping people to re-discover their identity is also seen as key in this approach.

The third project was of a volunteer centre which is part of a network of Norwegian centres based on the one office, one phone, one employee approach started by the Norwegian government (which funds that basic start up package) in the 1990s. It engages volunteers from different age groups, supporting other organisations and carrying out own projects and has grown through its own work over the years.

The final project was the Vlaamse Ouderenraad which is now seen as the voice of older people in Flanders, Belgium. One success was in calling for and getting a government minister for older people. A network of older peoples’ organsations, they give policy advice and organise actions, including an “elderly week” on a different theme each year promoting issues important to older people.

29 February 2012

Registration for Eurodiaconia's 2012 Healthy ageing and Elderly Care Network in Vienna from the 23-24th April is now open. Hosted by Diakonie Österreich it will  include a study visit to a diaconal residential centre for persons with Alzheimer’s as well as discussions on topics such as ensuring the dignity of older people, their participation in the community, priorities for long-term care and making the most of the European Year 2012 for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences and feed into policy discussions at EU level.

For further information please see the letter of invitation and draft agenda. To register for the meeting, members can complete the online form here. For more information please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .