WP3 Needs Analysis Country report (Maribor, Slovenia)

1. Local background 1.1 Participation in the World Health Organization’s “Age-friendly Cities” Project. We know that Maribor is part of the world’ s “Age Friendly Cities” network Current situation We have not dealt with the topic at our school yet, because our focus is on working with teenagers.

1. 3. Understanding the concept of the “Age-friendly City” We have already got familiar with the main guidelines of the concept “Age Friendly Cities”, but not the concrete activities.

1.4 Partner understanding of the Age-friendly Cities Project after submitting the questionnaire to the municipal administration After submitting the questionnaire to a municipal staff, we understand better the particular project in the following respects: - characteristics of age-friendly cities, - plans for the future, - know the person responsible for the project in our municipality.

2. Mayor's office or department for strategic planning Participation in the WHO’s “Age-friendly Cities” Project Maribor has joined the network of age-friendly cities by At the municipality, the person responsible for the project is Lilijana Zorko. The municipality operates under the guidance of Anton Trstenjak Institute, which is a flagship policy for the elderly population in Slovenia. The advantage of a membership in the network is that ageing of the city is a fact that is included in the overall functioning of the administration and its institutions.

2. 2. Understanding the concept of the “Age-friendly City” The objectives of municipalities are to establish conditions that will stay "friendly" for all the city residents. The main priority of the challenge is to regulate the aging infrastructure: traffic without unnecessary barriers, access to services (health, social, other services), irrespective of the location of residence in the city. In particular, it is for local communities to ensure the conditions for providers of public services, repair services and others to properly organize the activities in the city, because the local community itself is not a provider of those activities.

Older people are involved in the project teams of individual projects, they participate in the Council for the disabled, the age-friendly cities project, the project Q-aging (ageing quality in the urban environment +) and the City Council (the highest political authority in the city).

3. Training Needs for each Age-friendly city topic areas 3.1 Outdoor spaces We would like to continue building ramps instead of the stairs. 3.2 Buildings We would like a statutory obligation to build facilities without architectural barriers. 3.3 Transportation Consider the options for accessible transport for all the citizens, free transportation options after a certain age. 3.4 Housing Elaborate a study of the expected needs for Safe Housing for the Elderly in relation to extended life expectancy and a greater number of older people.

3.5 Business Set the standard for the elderly and maintaining it even at their age Tourism and Hospitality Recognize ways to help elderly with meals on wheels. Creating opportunities in an appropriate font for the elderly. Obtain information how holidays and travel for seniors are regulated in other countries.

3.7 Culture - Learn how to organize creative workshops. - Learn how to prepare suitable shows for the elderly (musicals, operas, ballet). 3.8 Sport - Learn how to form training and exercise for the elderly. - Get to know exercise for healthier back. - Experience exercise in the wild, in the nature. 3.9 Education - Obtain information what programs for the Third Age are there in other countries. - Try to understand how the elderly improve computer skills, language learning. - Improve sport for the elderly.

3.10 Social participation Developing intergenerational cooperation Respect and social inclusion Political participation of the elderly. The elderly are underrepresented in political decision-making; but if they are included, many political promises remain unfulfilled to them. There should also be more intergenerational cooperation based on respect towards the elderly population.

3.12 Civic participation and employment It is necessary to introduce a policy of active recruitment of elderly, based on the use of their experience and wisdom. They can become consultants to younger generations, as far as the economic situation permits that Communication and information Addressing the needs of the elderly people and responding to the ageing of the population. In one of the dormitories for elderly people called “Danica Vogrinec” (which is one of the leading elderly dorms in capacity and home programs for the elderly in Maribor) they have introduced project focal point for the elderly, where they provide written information (leaflets, flyers, newspapers) and electronic information (internet connection is available on the modern computer). This elderly dorm sticks to the principle "for a bit more”, as a response to increased needs in the modern period of ageing. “A bit more”, as the manager of the elderly dorm Mr. Slavič suggested, is considered to be a special project. This "a bit more" applies to all areas and not only to information (yoga for laughter, recreation for the elderly, home care, day care, home delivery of food, etc.).

3.14 Community support services Arranging the most suitable accommodation for the elderly. It is necessary to arrange the space and environment to facilitate the movement of the elderly and living conditions as they age. Thus, the elderly are given the possibility of a normal, accessible and personalized stay in an authentic environment and also an opportunity of active and dignified ageing Health services Care for the elderly. In this area it is necessary to remove physical barriers for easier access to health care and nursing, care of elderly at home, and later in institutional form. The price for care must be acceptable for the elderly, as far as the economic situation permits that.

4. Interviews with representatives of the elderly from each area 4.1 Elderly persons association At the time of the EPC (European City of Culture) in Maribor, all the performances in the cultural field are much too expensive. 4.2 Adult persons association Safe housing for the elderly and the availability of transport. 4.3 Young persons association Proposing the learning of communication for people who work with elderly population. 4.4 Associations that work in the area of respect and social inclusion More money for the active involvement of elderly people and active ageing.

Conclusions During the interview, we found out that the majority of all respondents recognized the importance and challenges of an ageing population. Elderly people should be given the opportunity for the normal, accessible, adapted and pleasant stay in their beautiful surroundings. The city must be friendly towards the elderly in all areas of their lives, such as housing, adapted infrastructure and availability to a wide variety of services. Our city gentlemen must respond to the specific problems of the elderly immediately, and not only when the problems become too serious. In some activities, they have already actively undertaken the projects for the elderly, particularly in the field of culture, sport and education. However, in some activities more initiatives by local communities and other institutions that care for the elderly are expected.