2023-04-21 09:48:35
News report by: Weekkrant de Loop Helmond
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HELMOND “I had fallen into a black hole after my retirement. You have unleashed something in me. I’m looking forward to it again!”, was one of the reactions of participants in the Rock ‘n Rollators project, a band project for ‘elderly people’. That is what you hope to achieve when you organize a project for the over 65s. In recent years, various organizations involved in various compositions have organized sporting, social and cultural projects to reach the over-65s in Helmond. Everything under the name ‘Attention for the elderly’.
Recognition
This collaboration works well and the organizations involved see the added value of taking up activities together. Because where one organization is a real location for the target group, the other is pre-eminently an organizer. Add one and one together and you have three in this case!
This unique collaboration between volunteers and professionals is also a national example. Last weekend, the Oranjefonds decided to support Attention for the Elderly both financially and organisationally.
The collaboration was confirmed on April 17 in the presence of the alderman for the elderly Marita van Lierop at Kunstkwartier. Because the municipality of Helmond also provides co-financing. The alderman: “I am happy with this working group of enthusiastic volunteers and professionals. In Helmond we want the elderly to continue to participate in society. Staying active, a healthy lifestyle and a social network are important pillars in this. Meeting each other at fun activities contributes positively to this.”
Why the more formal endorsement? Organizing activities is possible anyway, right? Yes that’s right. But in the coming years we have a lot of ambitions to tackle together. This is how Attention for the Elderly works:
make the collaboration more sustainable under the guidance of the Oranjefonds continue to connect activities and make use of each other’s knowledge, skills and networks to reach as many elderly people as possible dedicate themselves to ‘Talking about later’ in collaboration with the municipality of Helmond, including research into needs and barriers for vulnerable elderly people to increase well-being in collaboration with Pharos and Fontys are working on a joint communication approach 
Necessary
The corona crisis has had a major impact on everyone, but especially on the elderly. The elderly were housebound more than ever. While we all know (and research confirms this) that it is so incredibly important to have a social network, practice a hobby, exercise and discover new talents. Prevention pays off. Vital, happy elderly need much less care than frail elderly. “Unfortunately, we know that there are 5,500 vulnerable elderly people in Helmond that we have little or no insight into. In Helmond, many organizations are often selflessly committed to the elderly Helmonder. But of course you can always achieve more together”, says Joost Verspaget, the voluntary chairman of Attention for the Elderly.
Partners
Who are those ‘we’? The Attention for the Elderly partnership consists of a mix of volunteers and professionals. The participating organizations in Attention for the Elderly are:
The associations of the elderly: KBO St. Lucia, KBO Stiphout-Warande, PVGE Stichting De Zonnebloem Jibb+ CultuurContact LEVgroep Zorgboog Savant Zorgboog Extra
Project leader Ellen van Bree: “These are the organizations that are now involved in thinking and talking. But Attention for the Elderly is open to any party that considers the well-being of vulnerable over-65s important. Collaboration is not the goal in itself, but we firmly believe in the power of together”.
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#Cooperation #ensures #Attention #elderly