PROPOSAL FOR AN EXTERNAL ACTIVITY
CIVEX COMMISSION
2016
Type of activity proposed (select one):
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a)
External meeting and conference
Seminar
Study visit (12 members)
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Title and subject matter of the proposed activity:
Promoting active citizenship among the older population — the experience of the municipality of
Maia.
The municipality of Maia, aware of the huge challenges facing its residents due to its ageing
population, which is no exception to any other, has implemented new policies to support the elderly
population, and since 2013 has been an "Age-friendly city". Based on WHO recommendations, "an
age-friendly city adapts its structures and services to be accessible to and inclusive of older people
with varying needs and capacities".
b)
Link between the proposed activity and the Work Programme and political priorities of the
CIVEX commission and the CoR:
Upholding fundamental rights and active citizenship are priority subjects for the CIVEX Commission.
The right to age in dignity is enshrined in the European Charter of the rights and responsibilities of
older people in need of long-term care and assistance. The Charter recommends a series of measures
to combat age discrimination and covers the main challenges faced by older people.
Political objective of the proposed activity:
c)
Strategic relevance of the proposed activity (interinstitutional calendar, CIVEX activities):
The study visit provides an opportunity to promote the rights of older people and to publicise the need
to take a human rights approach when framing local policy, recognising older people as holding equal
rights.
Once aware of the Maia experiment, other policy-makers will be prompted to develop active and
healthy ageing policies and harness the potential of older people to be more actively involved on the
labour market, in social life and to lead independent lives.
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EN
d)
Added value of proposed activity:
The municipality of Maia has considerable know-how in this area, together with outstanding social
partners, and as a result is offering its older population a better future and is helping to ensure that
older people remain healthier, safer and happier for longer.
A range of activities specifically tailored to the older population has been promoted since the 1990s in
the Maia municipality, covering such varied areas as leisure, culture, physical activity and sport and
contacts between the generations, with the clear aim of promoting active and healthy ageing, both for
individuals and groups, and to combat isolation and loneliness.
Examples include the senior citizens' garden in the town centre, a range of thematic workshops, the
mobile library, video clubs, the home support service carrying out minor repairs, family games,
tourism for senior citizens and dance evenings.
What we have done could usefully be shared and reproduced elsewhere.
e)
Political context:
Please indicate if there are any elections foreseen within three months before and/or after
the event, and if so, the date and type of election (e.g. local, regional, national).
Elections planned: Yes / No
Date(s) of these elections:…………………………………………………………
Type:…………………………………………………………
f)
We propose the following visit for those participating:
MUNICIPAL SENIOR HEALTH PROGRAMME
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SENIOR TOURISM
MAIA SENIOR CITIZENS' CLUB
VISIT TO ONE OR TWO SOCIAL FACILITIES
Additional comments:
Maia Senior Citizens' Club
The Maia Municipal Council has adopted an innovative approach. The local authority has developed a
raft of initiatives and programmes to promote active ageing and improve the quality of life of older
people.
These activities are highly diverse, as can be seen from the following brief outline:
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Sports activities:
Senior Citizens' Sports Days, which are for the over 60s of Maia and take place during July at the
Memória beach. The aim of this initiative is to offer older people a significant social, cultural and
sporting experience, promoting friendly contact between them, encouraging them to use their free
time, get into the habit of practising a sport and improving the quality of their lives.
The Maia Senior Citizen' Club, set up in 1997 with the initial purpose of encouraging more people
living in care homes or attending day centres to take part in sports activities. Since 2003, these
activities have been open to all over 60s, including those not living in care homes or attending centres,
provided they are residents of the Maia municipality. Activities run from October to June at nine
municipal facilities and 16 homes and day centres. Ballroom dancing, tai-chi-chuan, physical
education, water gymnastics, boccia for elderly people and hydrotherapy are available. The Maia
Senior Citizens' Club provides a weekly total of 119 hours of sports activities.
Tourism for senior citizens
Since 1996 the Maia municipality has run a Maia Senior Citizens' Tourism Programme, with the
aim of stimulating the local elderly population, combating isolation and loneliness through visits for
the over 62s to local sites of cultural or natural interest. Some 80 000 senior citizens over the age of 65
have so far taken part in the programme.
Mobile library
This initiative brings books, videos and audiobooks, suitable for those with reading difficulties and
nostalgic for times past, to local retirement homes and day centres.
Senior Maia Project - Nutritional education project for the older population
As part of an ongoing drive to expand the range of activities promoting health, well-being and quality
of life for the older population, the Maia municipal council, in partnership with the Faculty of
Nutritional and Food Sciences of the University of Porto, dedicated a week in November 2010 to food
education for senior citizens, under the title "Why taste is also important to healthy eating". This
project aims to provide the older population with courses in food education/clarification, accompanied
by food tastings and offering a healthy lunch, with some 450 senior citizens taking part.
The growing take-up of the project among senior citizens fully justifies its continuation: three events
have so far been held.
Proposed place:
Indicative date: June 2016
Proposed by (name of member): António Bragança Fernandes
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