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 2005: advising role = The Flemish Council

of the Elderly

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

DECREECONCERNING THE STIMULATION OF AN INCLUSIVE POLICY FOR THE ELDERLY IN FLANDERS AND THE PARTICIPATION OF THE ELDERLY

21 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

Representative through recognised older people’s organisations

Older experts

Give advice but don’t have a vote:VVSG – VvP Joined members

= diverse older people’s organisations

THE FLEMISH COUNCIL OF THE ELDERLY

Core business: giving adviceown initativeon requestabout everything that concerns older peopleTherefore: follow the developments and be alert for the needs of the elderly

ADVICE INTERGENERATIONAL SOLIDARITY

Together with the Flemish Youth Council

Greater solidarity between generations

THE FLEMISH COUNCIL OF THE ELDERLY

Other objectives: Information, newsletter – website

– answer questionsRaising awareness, e.g. negative

imagingWarning function, e.g. digital

exclusionResearch (support, participate in

peergroups)

INFORM

WWW.VLAAMSE-OUDERENRAAD.BE

RAISE AWARENESS

Bend the negative imaging

Describe the diversity among the elderly population

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

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 accessibilitySports and movement: raising awareness

amoung the elderly and the policy-makersHealth, 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: Each role is

meaningful

THE WINNING BOOK

EVENT DURING THE ELDERY WEEK

ACHIEVEMENTS

Unique platformPosition statementsDecree: Policy participation of the

elderlyRecognised by the government as

Council of the ElderlyMore attention from policy-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’

European Older People’s Platform

European network

150 organisations of older people’s organisations

Representing over 25 million older people in the European Union

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

Vlaamse OuderenraadKathy LouagieE-mail: kathy.louagie@vlaamse-ouderenraad.be