In line with the European’s Commission European Year on Active Ageing and International Solidarity, Conseil Géneral du Val de Marne organized a European conference on the 17th and 18th of October.

The members of Partenalia shared their experiences in the field.

2012 has been designated “European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations”, A chance for all of us to reflect on how Europeans are living longer and staying healthier than ever before and to realise the opportunities that represents.

Remaining active by growing old is the key question of the demographic ageing for the European Commission which sets itself the following goals while defining the active ageing:

• to give the elderly their chance to fully contribute to the society,
• to promote elderly’s employment,
• to allow the elderly to bring an active contribution through the voluntary work (most of the time as a family helper),
• allow the elderly to live in complete autonomy thanks to appropriate apartments, infrastructures, computer applications and transport.

Key challenges

1. To emphasize the Department’s values, particularly solidarity, social ties and involvement in favor of the elderly,
2. To enhance the departmental and European experiences in the active ageing and solidarity’s area,
3. To reflect about the place and the role of the elderly within the society,
4. To tackle the active ageing’s issue with a global and non category-based approach.

Round tables

• Round table n° 1: How will we grow old to-morrow ?
• Round table n° 2: elderly’s right to the city: reality or utopia ?
• Round table n° 3: Which place for the elderly in our tomorrow’s society ?