Older People

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Older Peoples platform
The Flemish Council of the Elderly
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Three levels in Belgium
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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

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Policy participation

• aims to voice and defend the interests of older
  and retired people
• Direct participation
• Indirect participation voice of the elderly
• Focus on a wide range of policy areas
• Older people should be able to speak out on their
  own behalf

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DECREECONCERNING THE STIMULATION OF AN INCLUSIVE
POLICY FOR THE ELDERLY IN FLANDERS AND THE
PARTICIPATION OF THE ELDERLY21 APRIL 2004 gt
COORDINATING MINISTER gt FLEMISH COUNCIL OF THE
ELDERLY gt POLICY FOR ELDERLY AT LOCAL LEVEL
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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

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The Flemish Council of the elderly

• Non profit organisation
• Duration of the Council per governing period
• Grant

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The Flemish Council of the elderly

• Council of the Elderly
• 60 are 60-plus
• Chairman is an older person (60)
• Representative
• Expertise
• Autonomy

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Composition

• Representative through recognised older peoples
  organisations
• Older experts
• Give advice but dont have a voteVVSG VvP
  Joined members diverse older peoples
  organisations

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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

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Advice Intergenerational Solidarity

• Together with the Flemish Youth Council
• Greater solidarity between generations

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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)

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Inform
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www.vlaamse-ouderenraad.be
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RAISE AWARENESS

• Bend the negative imaging
• Describe the diversity among the elderly
  population

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Structure

• Flemish Council of the elderly the elderly (or
  their representatives), volunteers
• Democratic
• Decision making bodies General Assembly and the
  Board
• Executive Committee ( spokesmen)
• Search for consensus

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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

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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

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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

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Elderly week 2008 - 2009

• Theme
• Role of the elderly in our society
• Slogan
• Each role is meaningful

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The winning Book
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EVENT DURING THE ELDERY WEEK
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Achievements

• Unique platform
• Position statements
• Decree Policy participation of the elderly
• Recognised by the government as Council of the
  Elderly
• More attention from policy-makers

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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

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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

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FLEMISH COUNCIL OF THE ELDERLY IS A MEMBER OF
AGE

• European Older Peoples Platform
• European network
• 150 organisations of older peoples organisations
• Representing over 25 million older people in the
  European Union

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Thank you for your attention!

• Vlaamse Ouderenraad
• Kathy Louagie
• E-mail kathy.louagie_at_vlaamse-ouderenraad.be