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Ageing in Iceland

Ageing in Iceland. Involvement, independence and participation in decision-making Gudbjorg Arnadottir. Being happy ?. A conference on ageing was held by D irectors of S ocial Affaires , attended by professionals , ageing people and various artists

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Ageing in Iceland

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  1. Ageing in Iceland Involvement, independence and participation in decision-making GudbjorgArnadottir

  2. Beinghappy? A conferenceonageingwas held byDirectors of SocialAffaires, attendedbyprofessionals,ageingpeopleandvariousartists • Commentfrom a writer: Gettingold is likebeingpunished for somethingyoudidn‘t do.... • Commentfrom a philosopher: Acquiringwisdom is likecollectinghappiness-blubber. Thelongerwelivethefatterwe get. Ifusedwiselyitwillleadtohappinessbecause of allthememoriesgatheredthroughlife GudbjorgArnadottir

  3. Ideas of theyoung: What is a retiredperson? • Sebastian : This is a verydifficultquestion, I haveseenthemon TV. I thinktheycollectcans • Johannes: Youbecomeonewhenyouareveryold, 30-40 years. Theydocarpentryandtheytellyouifyourplumming is leaking • Johanna: Theyarealwaysonholidaybutthey still get money. Everyonebecomesone, exceptiftheydiefirst. I thinkit‘s a goodthingbecausethenyoucanstay in thebathtuballday. GudbjorgArnadottir

  4. Associations of theAgeing • Around Iceland thereareassociationsthatprovidevariousservices for theageing. Theseassociationsareformedandsustainedbytheageingthemselves • Ineverycommunity, however small, theageinghavetheirownassociation • Eachcommunityprovidesassistancetotheassociations e.g. manpowerandhousing GudbjorgArnadottir

  5. Multiple choice • Eventhougheachcommunityassiststheassociationsasnecessary, it is entirelyuptoeachindividualtoparticipate in activitiesoffered • It is easytoaccessinformationonthe internet or in thelocalpapers • Eventscanbeoutings, artexhibits, concerts, handiwork, physicalactivitiesetc. GudbjorgArnadottir

  6. Programme 4.-11. May 2013in Kopavogur (community of 30.000) Therewere 36 eventsadvertisedincluding: • Concert at theswimmingpool • Zumba-party at theswimmingpool • Jazz concert at thelocalconcerthall • Lecture: History of Kopavogur • Educationalwalk in a small wood in theneighbourhood • Origamilessons • Variousartexhibitionsandconcerts • Swimmingandphysicalactivities GudbjorgArnadottir

  7. Getting involved • There have been vivid discussions in Iceland on how to involve the public in decision-making • This has also had impact on the affairs of the ageing population • Based on a model used to get ideas from the public for a new constitution (held 2011), a congress was held by the authorities to initiate and promote ideas regarding the ageing GudbjorgArnadottir

  8. The Congress • The congress wasinitiatedbyTheministry of Welfare, City of Reykjavik, TheNationalAssociation of theAgeing, TheOffice of TheAgeingAffairesandfourassociations of differentprofessionals • TheOffice of TheAgeingAffairesinstigatedtheCongress in celebrationof TheEuropeanYear of theAgeing GudbjorgArnadottir

  9. Thepurpose Thetheme: CELEBRATING SUCCESSFUL AGEING • Toincitetheageingpopulationtoparticipate in decisionmaking in theirownaffairs • Participantswereprofessionalsandtheageing, togetherwithofficials GudbjorgArnadottir

  10. Attendanceexceededexpectations GudbjorgArnadottir

  11. Theagenda Twomaingoals of the congress were • Topromptdiscussiononaffairs of theageingin generalandanalyseexpectationsandoutlooktowardstheageingyears • Topromotepositiveattitudetowardstheageingpopulation, theirsocialposition, andhowtoappreciatetheirviewonlife GudbjorgArnadottir

  12. Notitle!! GudbjorgArnadottir

  13. Beingoldor not soold • Theoldestparticipantrunning for Parliamentthis spring was 104 years of age, Hlíf Böðvarsdóttir • TheoldestelectedMember of Parliamentthis spring is 69 yearsold, Sigrún Magnúsdóttir • Hlíf said: Wecannotliveonourown, onour small islandweneedothernations to workwithandtheymayalsoneedus GudbjorgArnadottir

  14. Thefourquestionsasked • Whatarethesociety‘s expectationstowardstheageing? • Whatdotheageingexpectfromthesociety? • Whatdoessuccessfulageinginclude? • Howdowe best celebratesuccessfulageing? GudbjorgArnadottir

  15. Thesocietiy‘s expectations • Theageingarelookeduponas a social-number (includesdate of birth!) • Theageingfeelthattheyareexpectedtobe in thebackground • Theirpoliticalviewsare not consideredasvalidasthose of theyoungergeneration • Theageingarelookeduponas a groupinstead of individuals GudbjorgArnadottir

  16. Whattheageingwant • Theageingwanttobetakenseriouslyandtheiropinionappreciated • Thesocietyshouldappreciatethewisdomandexperience of theageingasanassett, theydo not wanttobeconsidered a burden • Theageingwanttobe part of decision-makingthatconcernthem GudbjorgArnadottir

  17. Successfulageingincludes • beingableto set goals in life • choosingdesiredleisureactivities, nomatterwhatage • dutiesthatarepart of life, also for theageing • intellectualandphysicalstimulationthroughactivities, chosenbytheageingthemselves GudbjorgArnadottir

  18. Celebratingsuccessfulageing • Havingbreakfastwiththelove of yourlifeeveryday! • Enjoyinglifewithyourfamilyandfriends • Enjoyingthethingsthatyouhaveaccomplishedthroughlife – enablingyoutomediateyourwisdomtotheyoung • Beingabletolookforwardtotomorrowandthelifeahead GudbjorgArnadottir

  19. Why not brag a little? GudbjorgArnadottir

  20. Staying active • Being old does not have to mean you must think old. Many ageing people sing in a choir and Eurovision contest songs are sometimes part of their repertoire GudbjorgArnadottir

  21. Physical activity 70 + GudbjorgArnadottir

  22. With a little help from a friend GudbjorgArnadottir

  23. Ice GudbjorgArnadottir

  24. Fire GudbjorgArnadottir

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