The elderly are part of Aarhus’ future

The elderly are not what they used to be. In future, elderly people will be more individual, more active in society and more resourceful. In 2008, those born in 1943 – the biggest birth year ever in Denmark – will be 65, placing new demands on society. The Municipality of Aarhus is doing what it can to prepare for this challenge. When policies for the elderly are being decided, they must take account of the desires and expectations of our citizens and the elderly’s own resources.

Elderly ambassadors for the future

In early 2003, the Municipality of Aarhus ap-pointed 23 so-called ambassadors for the future – men and women from Aarhus and environs who were actively participating in the debate and not afraid of making their views known. The aim was for them to kick-start the discussion and present their ideas on the future policy for the elderly in the Municipality of Aarhus. In the course of the year, the ambassadors for the future took part in a number of Future Cafés, where the elderly were on the agenda.

In January 2004, a catalogue of ideas and proposals from the ambassadors on senior living in Aarhus was presented, and in 2005, Niels Erik Eskildsen, the Alderman for Health, was able to present the initiative “Ældrepakken 2005”, a package, which involved an additional 60 million Danish kroner being allocated for improvements for the elderly; improvements which were largely based on the recommendations made by the ambassadors for the future, among other things in the form of housing, health clinics, open local centres, prevention and outdoor activities as well as greater focus on food for the elderly.

Self-governing volunteer houses

The Municipality of Aarhus is supporting association activities for the elderly in the form of four so-called volunteer houses, which help the elderly live an active and meaningful life. The municipality pays for the running of the houses, while the elderly themselves organise the activ-ities at the four houses, which are located in the centre of Aarhus. This is a good way of meeting new people, and of becoming part of a greater community – things which make life worth living.

Listening to the elderly

The Municipality of Aarhus has set up a number of committees to ensure that the elderly are given influence.

The municipality has had a Committee for the Elderly since 1997. Citizens aged 60+ are eligible members of the committee. Members sit for a term of four years. The Committee for the Elderly is consulted on issues of importance to the elderly citizens.

Furthermore, each of the 38 local centres in the Municipality of Aarhus is entitled to elect a user committee, which ensures that the elderly have a say in the running of the centres and the activ-ities organised. Committees are also set up for residents at nursing homes etc. and theirs families.

In the Municipality of Aarhus, services for the elderly are the responsibility of the municipal department for health and care, which works closely with a number of organisations (for example, Ældre Sagen, Århus Pensionist Sam-råd and OK Klubberne) to ensure that the inter-ests and requirements of the elderly are properly looked after.