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Older People’s platform. The Flemish Council of the Elderly. Three levels in Belgium. history. 1993: OOK vzw Umbrella organisation of organisations of older people Unique Different ideologies and political belief Recognised by the government as representative contact
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OlderPeople’s platform The Flemish Council of the Elderly
history 1993: OOK vzw Umbrella organisation of organisations of older people Unique Different ideologies and political belief Recognised by the government as representative contact 2005: advising role = The Flemish Council of the Elderly
Policyparticipation = aims to voice and defend the interests of older and retiredpeople Direct participation Indirect participation = voice of the elderly Focus on a wide range of policy areas Olderpeopleshouldbeable to speak out ontheirownbehalf
DECREECONCERNING THE STIMULATION OF AN INCLUSIVE POLICY FOR THE ELDERLY IN FLANDERS AND THE PARTICIPATION OF THE ELDERLY21 APRIL 2004 => COORDINATING MINISTER => FLEMISH COUNCIL OF THE ELDERLY => POLICY FOR ELDERLY AT LOCAL LEVEL
Implementing2 september 2005 • Appointment of a coordinating minister • Establishment and set up of the Flemish Council of the Elderly • OOK = Flemish Council of the Elderly
The Flemish Council of the elderly Non profit organisation Duration of the Council per governing period Grant
The Flemish Council of the elderly Council of the Elderly 60 % are 60-plus Chairman is an older person (60+) Representative Expertise Autonomy
Composition • Representativethroughrecognisedolderpeople’sorganisations • Older experts • Giveadvicebutdon’t have a vote:VVSG – VvP Joinedmembers = diverse olderpeople’sorganisations
The Flemish Council of the elderly Core business: giving advice own initative on requestabout everything that concerns older people Therefore: follow the developments and be alert for the needs of the elderly
AdviceIntergenerationalSolidarity • Togetherwith the FlemishYouthCouncil • Greatersolidaritybetweengenerations
The Flemish Council of the elderly Other objectives: • Information, newsletter – website – answer questions • Raising awareness, e.g. negative imaging • Warning function, e.g. digital exclusion • Research (support, participate in peergroups)
RAISE AWARENESS Bend the negative imaging Describe the diversity among the elderly population
Structure • FlemishCouncil of the elderly = the elderly (ortheirrepresentatives), volunteers • Democratic • Decisionmakingbodies: General Assembly and the Board • ExecutiveCommittee(= spokesmen) • Search for consensus
How do we operate? Based on the input of the elderly Committees prepare the advice and view points Composition of the committees = representatives of the elderly organisations, experts, professionals Current and necessary themes: sport, accesibility, lifelong learning, … Frequency of the meetings: depends on the necessity
Commitees Income, economy and work: adequate pensions International Elderly Policy: Age discrimination Mobility: transport systems and accessibility Sports and movement: raising awareness amoung the elderly and the policy-makers Health, Welfare and Care: healthy ageing, promoting home healthcare and avoid dependency Culture, Life-long learning and citizenship
How do we operate? Annualy: Elderly Week, 3rd week of November Themes: Poverty, Security, Elderly Policy, Diversity, the role of the elderly in the society, … Congress of the elderly: dialogue between elderly, politicians and experts Improve and stimulate the participation of the elderly
Elderly week 2008 - 2009 Theme: Role of the elderly in our society Slogan: Eachrole is meaningful
Achievements Unique platform Position statements Decree: Policyparticipation of the elderly Recognisedby the government as Council of the Elderly More attentionfrompolicy-makers
Achievements Council of the elderly at each level: Flemish, provincial and local level A brochure about policy participation Each year a brochure of the Elderly Week Representative: hearings, 31 organisations that work for or with older people Become more well known …
STRENGTHS Consensus through consideration Respect for the diversity between the different organisations and for their individuality Commitment of older volunteers Competence of older people and their organisations
FLEMISH COUNCIL OF THE ELDERLY IS A MEMBER OF ‘AGE’ • EuropeanOlderPeople’s Platform • Europeannetwork • 150 organisations of olderpeople’sorganisations • Representing over 25 millionolderpeople in the European Union
Thankyouforyourattention! Vlaamse Ouderenraad Kathy Louagie E-mail: kathy.louagie@vlaamse-ouderenraad.be