Larger organizations are demanding new channels of social participation.

-Is leveraging the capabilities and resources of this group through new formulas for volunteer

-according to Eurostat, in Spain seniors organizations (5.7%) are the institutions most valued by older persons to represent their interests, above the nuns (3.9%), local authorities (0.7%) and European institutions (0.1%)

Madrid. January of 2013- but increases year after year, the participation of older persons in organized entities is below the overall mean. According to data of the CIS, 22.6% of elders aged 65 States belong or have belonged to an Association of any kind, compared to 34.7% of average.

According to Eurostat, in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Iceland with about 9%, Slovenia, Slovakia and Cyprus (around 8%), Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom and the Netherlands (with more than 7%) is where believe that larger organizations are that best represent their interests, above the 5.9% of the European Union.

In Spain with a 5.7%, larger organizations are most valued by top institutions of religious (3.9%), local authorities (0.7%) and European institutions (0.1%). The rest, central Government, companies and media would gain a negative rating on his role for the promotion of active ageing.

Beyond their membership in an organization or another type, the social activism of the elderly is minority: 76% claims to not have been said never (compared with 57% average); the 87.8% has not never contacted a politician to express his opinion (83%); 72% has not never raised money for any cause (58.9%); and 79.4% has never collaborated with a group or Association (68.7% overall average).

Participation in civil society enriches the lives of volunteers and is involved in the Betterment of society. Now more than ever, retirees must involve ourselves and look for ways of participation for the benefit of all. It is change the concept of action on policies for the elderly, and passes from consider us preceptors of services to constitute ourselves as a collective with capabilities and resources that society should take advantage. We are an important source of social untapped resources ”, says Luis Martín Pindado, President of UDP.

The report data are by participation and social inclusion ” inside the hood of the Imserso in collaboration with democratic Union of pensioners, UDP, twelve causes for 2012, which this month is dedicated to alert against unwanted citizens of age loneliness, and social participation as a way to combat it.

Since older organizations, ideas have been proposed to develop policies aimed at the active participation of citizens over the age of 65 years, taking into account also that the year 2013 has been declared by the European Union, European year of citizens.

Contributions

-Promote and carry out awareness campaigns and promotion of civic engagement.

-Promote the active presence of the citizens of age in needed services to the community, avoiding labor intrusiveness.

-Give more visibility to actions in benefit of society already retired persons are carried out.

-Promoting training in new technologies such as social participation formula.

-Make education campaigns to teach older people rights that assist them as citizens in general and as senior citizens in particular (letter people over the European Union).

-Develop and carry out specific courses of social intervention projects so that they are created, launched and managed by retired people.

-Promote associationism, through information campaigns in large enterprises, media, etc.

-Empowerment of seniors organizations, and a greater presence in the organs where they decide policies of ageing.

-Financial support of Governments, social organisations, foundations or companies to organizations of retired persons so that older people can develop own activities.

Volunteering as a form of active participation

Volunteering is precisely the way in which older people exercise more active citizenship in their communities. In fact 11.8% of Spaniards who were engaged in voluntary work in Spain in 2010, 20.6% were over the age of 65 years or older (24% women and 16.2% men); followed by the group aged from 45 to 64 years (14.8%).

The over 65s spend an average of 20 minutes per week to meetings and volunteer work, devoting most of his time throughout the week to personal care (more than 12 hours); home and family (3: 26); to the media (radio and tv: 4: 23); to relate and have fun (1: 08) (survey of employment of time (INE 2009-2010).

)Volunteering is also a way to socialize and break the isolation of older persons living alone. According to Eurostat (2011) the middle of elderly people living alone in Spain was 19.1%, being next to Greece (18.6%), countries where lower percentages of the EU 27 is reached. On the other hand countries such as Denmark (44.1%) and Lithuania (40.7%), have the highest, stood above 31.8% of the average.

The difference between isolation and loneliness, marking what has caused it and also the ability of the person to adapt to the circumstances. In these times of crisis – drew Pindado-these data on seniors living alone will have changed clearly. We’re seeing as many children alone or with their families are returning to live with their parents, most retirees, what them this forcing not only an economic conversion, but staff. These elderly people, have to give up your space and personal time, a space and a time that had already won for them. That is, many women who had overcome the trauma of the empty nest, must return to take on the role of housewife and head of the family, with the risk of that abandon their activities, their relationships and even their economic independence ”.

58.9% Of the elderly lives alone compelled by the circumstances although it has known how to adapt; 35.8% prefer; and only 4.5% would live with their children or other relatives. Thus more than half (56%) showed very or satisfied with the situation; a 14.6 was indifferent and 23% claimed to feel unsatisfied.

Democratic pensioners Union

The UDP is the first organization of largest in the country, with more than 2,500 associations in all Spain, Germany, France, Switzerland and Latin America, which bring together more than one million five hundred thousand partners. Entity declared of public utility, 35 years develops activities in defence of the interests of older persons and the promotion of active ageing. Holds the Vice-Presidency of the State Council of older persons, and is a member of the platform of the Third Sector, the NGO platform ’ s of Social Action; Platform of promotion of volunteering and the European Forum on healthy aging, among other entities.