1. O LDER P EOPLE ’ S PLATFORM The Flemish Council of the Elderly

3. T HREE LEVELS IN B ELGIUM

4. 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

5. P OLICY 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

6. DECREE CONCERNING 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

7. I MPLEMENTING 2 SEPTEMBER 2005 Appointment of a coordinating minister Establishment and set up of the Flemish Council of the Elderly OOK = Flemish Council of the Elderly

9. T HE F LEMISH C OUNCIL OF THE ELDERLY Non profit organisation Duration of the Council per governing period Grant

10. T HE F LEMISH C OUNCIL OF THE ELDERLY Council of the Elderly 60 % are 60-plus Chairman is an older person (60+) Representative Expertise Autonomy

11. C OMPOSITION 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

12. T HE F LEMISH C OUNCIL OF THE ELDERLY Core business: giving advice own initative on request about everything that concerns older people Therefore: follow the developments and be alert for the needs of the elderly

13. A DVICE I NTERGENERATIONAL S OLIDARITY Together with the Flemish Youth Council Greater solidarity between generations

14. T HE F LEMISH C OUNCIL 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)

15. I NFORM

16. WWW. VLAAMSE - OUDERENRAAD. BE

17. RAISE AWARENESS Bend the negative imaging Describe the diversity among the elderly population

18. S TRUCTURE 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

19. 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

20. C OMMITEES 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

21. 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

22. E LDERLY WEEK 2008 - 2009 Theme: Role of the elderly in our society Slogan: Each role is meaningful

23. T HE WINNING B OOK

24. EVENT DURING THE ELDERY WEEK

26. A CHIEVEMENTS Unique platform Position statements Decree: Policy participation of the elderly Recognised by the government as Council of the Elderly More attention from policy-makers

27. A CHIEVEMENTS 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 …

28. 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

29. 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

30. T HANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ! Vlaamse Ouderenraad Kathy Louagie E-mail: kathy.louagie@vlaamse- ouderenraad.be