Innovation: Gyor – Age-friendly city

Hungary

AAI Domains:

• Independent, healthy and secure living (access to health services, independent living)

• Participation in society (lifelong learning, political participation, voluntary activity, inter-generational activity, Social connectedness)

It is never too early or too late for active ageing strategies to be developed and implemented. With an increasing proportion of the population of many towns and cities already in the six, seventh or eighth decade of life it is important to meet the needs of older people now. It is also important to engage people of all ages in the process of active ageing over the life course and the World Health Organisation’s Age-friendly cities initiative provides a comprehensive and evidence based approach for municipalities around the world to develop more universal and age-friendly policies and practices.

Gyor is the largest city in north west Hungary with a population of nearly 130,000 people within the boundaries of the municipality. It has adopted a comprehensive approach to healthy ageing that focuses on four main domains.

1. The socioeconomic determinants of health

2. Health inequalities

3. Gender differences

4. Different nationalities

There are five principles that guide the strategy:

1. Older people represent a fundamental value to society as a valuable resource.

2. It is never too late to promote health.

3. Equity in health and no discrimination against older people.

4. Self-determination and personal control are essential to human dignity at all ages with older people given greater opportunities to take part in decisions that affect them.

5. Respect for the diversity of older people.

There are 10 main topics for health ageing that include

1. retirement and the period prior to retirement

2. social capital

3. mental health

4. the built environment

5. nutrition

6. physical activity

7. the prevention of injuries

8. the use and misuse of alternative medicine

9. medicines

10. preventive health services

In a multi-pronged approach, the needs of older people and the wider population provide a conceptual framework for a wide range of policies including accessible public transport, the Welhops age-friendly housing project that is part of the EU-funded Interreg IIIC project and enhanced social participation that encourages lifelong learning and knowledge transfer through inter-generational activities in schools and the community.

A particularly important element of the programme is preparing for old age that aims to increase awareness of ageing, communicating knowledge to break down the taboos and fear associated with old age and dependency through inter-generational activities and education. This process is assisted by encouraging older people to be volunteers for the benefit of the wider community as well as through participating in decision making through the Senior Citizens Council. The concerted approach of the municipality has been recognised by the Ministry of Health which has declared Gyor the most age-friendly city in Hungary.

Gyor has adopted a model approach based on the WHO framework and is making progress in a number of areas that will contribute to improved quality of life for older people now and in the future.

In relation to the Active Ageing Index, this approach encourages participation in society, independent and healthy living and enhancing enabling environments for active ageing. This shows that adopting an age-friendly approach that meets the needs of older people now and prepares future generations through a broad active ageing strategy can be undertaken in a wide variety of towns and cities.

Websites and resources

Gyor

Concept to improve the quality of life for the elderly in Gyor (DOC, 698KB)

Healthy Ageing abstracts (PDF, 786KB)