2024-07-24 00:04:41
However, senior citizens say that although the law is necessary, they fear that it will not become another cog in the bureaucratic apparatus.
It was based on the Youth Policy Framework Law
The draft law was prepared by a working group established by the Seimas Board, which was headed by Silva Lengvinienė, a member of the Seimas Democratic faction “Vardan Lietuvos”. This law was also drafted by Seimas members Vilija Targamadzė, Edmundas Pupinis, Andrius Navickas, Kęstutis Vilkauskas, Tomas Tomilinas, Eugenijus Jovaiša, Arūnas Valinskas.
Politicians hope that the Law on the Policy Framework for the Elderly will help to shape the policy for the elderly, to inculcate in society the understanding that the elderly cannot continue to be “requesters” or “supported” when fulfilling their needs.
The organizers of the project emphasize that society’s perception of older people must change.
It is proposed to orientate the policy of the elderly in eight directions. These are education and learning, health care, social care, employment, adaptation of housing and environment, culture, transport, personal safety.
It is planned that the policy will be implemented both at the level of the central government and at the local government level.
Don’t want any more paperwork
Kęstutis Nekrošius, chairman of the Kėdainiai branch of the Lithuanian pensioners’ union “Bočiai”, said that such a law is definitely needed. What’s more, the idea of such a law has been circulating among politicians for a long time, but no one has turned that idea into reality before.
“Such a law is really needed. Such a law has been talked about for a long time. But before, they would only talk and calm down, everything would be silent.
This year there were already big conferences, meetings with representatives of ministries and we expressed the need for such a law. Such a law would unite all the matters that connect those older people, because only in the events it was seen that there is no commonality – the Ministry of Social Security, the Ministry of Health Security sends some person, they talk about something from their bell tower, each about their own affairs, but there is no commonality, no common vision. it’s not…
I know that it was intended that there would be a coordinator for older people’s affairs in the districts, as there is a coordinator for youth affairs respectively.
It’s just scary that even though the plans are good, everything doesn’t work out “on paper”. We already have that paperwork before our eyes, we don’t want any more of it,” said K. Nekrošius.
Older people need communication the most
The draft law, it’s true, sounds very abstract, but how much will it benefit an ordinary elderly resident? This, apparently, also depends on the person himself. K. Nekrošius says that although there are about 60 members in the Kėdainiai “Bočių” organization, some of them have to be talked into participating somewhere, some of them are quite picky about their activities.
Not all older people want to use the opportunities already offered to them.
“You need to talk to people. I think that sometimes there is already oversaturation – we have so many events of all kinds, cultural centers organize a lot, libraries – even if you want to, you won’t be able to go everywhere.
People choose where to go, where is better, compare, comment. And that, of course, is normal.
But I would like the seniors to make their own contribution, to offer ideas, to do something. If you need some help in organizing events, oh, how hard it is to find volunteers”, says the chairman of Kėdainiai “Bočių”.
According to K. Nekrošius, the most important thing for older people is the ability to communicate. And it is possible to communicate through various useful activities – exercises, dances, concerts.
Most of all, probably, seniors would like to have the opportunity to travel – both in Lithuania and abroad, but when preparing projects, trips are allowed only if there is an exchange of good experiences of the communities.
2024-07-24 00:04:41