Measures for social inclusion of the elderly: The case of volunteering - Working paper

Naegele, Gerhard; Schnabel, Eckart; van de Maat, Jan Willem; Kubicki, Paweł; Chiatti, Carlos; Rostgaard, Tine

Overview

Research report

Measures for social inclusion of the elderly: The case of volunteering - Working paper

Published: 2 March 2011

+2

Gerhard Naegeleand 5 other authors

Quality of society

Ageing workforce

Retirement

Europe is facing unprecedented demographic change including a previously unknown ageing of the population. In view of these demographic and societal changes, social inclusion of the elderly is of growing importance. In searching for measures to promote the social inclusion of the older population, EU policies give special attention to encouraging volunteering. This working paper looks at experiences in 5 EU countries (Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland) and draws some interim conclusions.

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Number of pages

43

Reference no.

EF1055

Research report

8 September 2011

Volunteering by older people in the EU

Europe is undergoing a previously unwitnessed ageing of the population. In view of this, social inclusion of the elderly and strategies to promote voluntary work among older people are now important items on the EU’s political agenda. This report is based on 30 case studies from 11 Member States in which volunteers, not always exclusively older people, were successfully engaged in meaningful projects of all kinds. The cases demonstrate best practice in all aspects of the issue, ranging from strategies to recruit volunteers to ways of keeping them engaged and utilising their talents to the full. The report has a special focus on volunteering by those who may themselves be at risk of social exclusion.

Information sheet

14 March 2011

Older people and volunteering

Older people have typically been seen as the beneficiaries of voluntary activities. Indeed, the role of voluntary services is likely to become increasingly important in the context of cuts in state-provided welfare services and payments as a result of the economic crisis. However, increasing attention is also being paid to the contribution and potential of older people as voluntary workers.