Yenimahalle Public Education and Evening Art School has attended the "Active Aging and Intergenerational Solidarity" workshop.
The monitoring meeting held on with 3 workshop groups. After workshops, each group moderator presented to all participants about results and suggestions from workshop. According to the 1st workshop group results and suggestions;
The agenda of 1st workshop group;
- The theoretical definition of active aging, / aged people,
- What could be done in order to improve the quality of life and welfare for elderly,
- Supporting the elderly with Psycho-Social and Mental Health Rehabilitation,
- Inclusion of elderly people to society and into labour market,
- Healthy aging,
The theoretical definition of active aging, / aged people,
According the definition of the World Health Organization(WHO) Elderly is over 65+. According to this in Europe;
- 65-75 early aged
- 75-85 middle aged
- Over 85+ late elderly,
- In Europe, between the ages of 65-80 are regarded as active elderly
What is active aging?
Definition of the World Health Organization(WHO).
The process of improvement the quality of life, Inclosing in society, increasing the opportunities to appropriate level of security for elderly people (Commission Staff Working Document Ex-Ante Evaluation Accompanying document to the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Year for Active Ageing (2012). COM(2010)462.
What does Active aging include?
- Improving the opportunities for elderly people to keep working,
- Ensuring the long and healty life for elderly people,
- Contribution of elderly people to community/society (Developing the policies for voluntery works by government).
Getting older;
- To be healty (the most important mental healt),
- To be independent in daily life,
- To join the labour market,
- To be satisfied with his/her job,
- To be a part of society,
- To be an active participant as citizens to Social-culturel activities,
- To be active as physically.
2. What could be done in order to improve the quality of life welfare in elderly?
- Questionnaires should be carried out.
- The courses should be designed for elders to keep them active;
- The type of courses should be decided for elders (such as social-cultural or ICT courses etc…),
- The coordinator institutions which will design the courses should be determined,
- The courses should be promoted via social-visual media,
- The motivation of elders should be ensured,
- Getting help from retired elder teachers for peer learning,
- The concept and the meaning of “Elderly” should be introduced among the whole community,
- Smart homes and the friendly-age towns should be designed by government,
- Elderly nursing homes architectures should be regulated and planned for elders in order to live independently,
- There should be a collaboration between public institutions and NGOs ,
- Awareness works should be increased for all groups in society,
- Resources should be allocated into related organizations by government.
3. Psycho-Social Support and Mental Health Rehabilitation
- NGOs- institution should informs elderly people how to participate the courses and join the social groups,
- Home care services should be supported to prevent loneliness,
- Elderly clubs, day-care centers should be opened/increased the number of them to prevent loneliness, NGOs and local governments should be responsible for transportation and Access to facilities,
- Elderly care education should be given for family of elders and staffs of nursing –homes,
- Music, hobby and sports groups should be organized for elders,
- Generations should be brought together by elderly people’s voluntary participation,
- The fight against poverty should be supported by Government,
- Activities should be organized to make active living a lifestyle at the begining of the childhood for children and young people.
4. Inclusion into society and labour market
- The battery powered car should be provided for elders to go onto the street ,
- Urban places should be adapted for elders and disabled people (Buses, walkway etc…),
- Elders should be supported with social-individual development activities for contribution to economy,
- Elders should be supported to sale their products via internet after developing the ICT skills,
- The NGOs, public institutions, local governments, municipalities should make collaboration to support the activities for elders,
- Experienced seniors should take some responsibilities in each groups to support peer learning,
- The conditions of workplaces should be designed for elders, the quota of elders should be implemented in workplaces and they should be supported to work part-time,
- Retired elder teachers should work in museums to share their experiences with other generations and bring generations together.
5. Healty Aging
- The number of Geriatric units in university hospitals should be increased also the NGOs, public institutions; Nursing homes should make collaboration with Geriatric specialist,
- Preventive medical services should be developed to detect early age people in the society ,
- Healthy living policies should be developed by government,
- Malnutrition and feeding disorder should be scanned among the community and in nursing homes and necessary interventions should be taken in order to prevent and improve it.
6. Awareness activities
- Active aging should be advertised by visual and social media,
- The best family communication models and active aging should be promoted by movie on TV,
- The activities that bring generations together should be emphasized,
- TV programmes should be prepared about visiting elderly people to bring generations together,
- Active aging conferences should be organised in schools by active elders to inform the students,
- Perceptions of young people should be improved,
- Trips should be organized for students to visit elders hospitalized and living in nursing homes,
- The clubs should be set up at schools to bring generations together,
- Some activities should be organized at schools after school days (MEB Okullar Hayat Olsun Projesi),