Slovenia

Slovenia not only marked World Health Day on 6 April 2012, but is hosting a series of events throughout the year to promote healthy ageing and celebrate the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations

The main event for World Health Day was held on 6 April 2012 in Maribor. A conference focused on protecting the dignity of elderly people as well as securing comprehensive care services, which include primary health care, secondary care, social care, care at home and public health measures such as health promotion. Prominent speakers included Dr Božidar Voljč, former member of the WHO Executive Board. The event was co-organized by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Primary Health Care Nursing, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs, the National Institute of Public Health and the WHO Country Office.

Many other events to celebrate World Health Day were organized throughout the country. The capital city of Ljubljana, for example, collaborated with the Community Health Centre Ljubljana and the Regional Institute of Public Health to host a series of workshops from 10 to 20 April 2012 specifically aimed at the elderly. These workshops focused on sharing information about healthy lifestyles and measures each individual can take to prevent the most common noncommunicable diseases. The workshops promoted the proactive principle, encouraging participants to actively contribute to the maintenance of a healthy and active lifestyle, thereby adding quality to their lives.

The European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations was officially opened in Slovenia at the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia on 16 February 2012. The opening was supported through a letter by Dr Danilo Türk, President of the Republic of Slovenia. Among the dignitaries present were Andrej Vizjak, Minister of Labour, Family and Social Affairs, and Mr Andrej Beloglavec, Representative of the European Commission in Slovenia.

The Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs is organizing monthly events focused on the following themes:

• volunteer work as a key part of active ageing and solidarity between generations;
• promoting employment and maintaining work-related activities for pensioners, as well as those who have not yet reached retirement age;
• promoting active ageing at local level;
• care for the long-term ill and disabled individuals;
• promoting mobility of the elderly;
• promoting healthy ageing;
• promoting independent life at home;
• co-operation, interdependence and solidarity between generations;
• promoting tolerance;
• the role of education, training and culture;
• the information-oriented society and active ageing, and solidarity between generations.

Culminating these efforts was the Festival for the Third Age in September 2012. Ambassadors of the European Year 2012 helped raise awareness among the general public. The selected ambassadors are prominent older and young persons who are well known as innovators, athletes, philanthropists or for their accomplishments in the fields of culture or economics. Some exemplify success in the ´third age´.

Rok Trkaj, a famous Slovene rap singer, is one of the ambassadors. He is well known for his socially engaging songs and the video ´Alone´, which presents a day in the life of an elderly lady facing everyday challenges (i.e. living with osteoporosis and on the fifth floor of a building that has no elevator). She spends most of her time alone yet through perseverance and determination lives a full life and finds opportunities to socialize not only within her generation but also with young people. The rap song in this way promotes intergenerational socialization, solidarity and active ageing in a very attractive way that speaks to both the elderly and young people.

Highlights of policy actions taken in Slovenia to address population ageing

The decision to dedicate the year 2012 to Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations was taken during the Slovenian Presidency of the European Union Council in 2008.  The population of Slovenia is ageing rapidly and several policy measures have been introduced in recent years to address related issues. 

• 1997–2005: Programme for protection of the ageing. This programme promoted services which enable the elderly to remain for a longer period in their home environments.  
• 2006–2010: Strategy of care for the elderly. This document succeeded the first programme, and involved all ministries connected to demographic changes. It also established the Council on solidarity and quality aging of the population in Slovenia. 
• 2010: Strategy for active ageing, an action plan to increase the level of employed persons in the group 55–64 years. 
• 2010: National palliative care programme and action plan. This plan was prepared in collaboration with WHO (BCA 2008-2009).
• 2011-2012: Proposal for the act on long-term care and insurance for long-term care in being prepared..

Several other initiatives have been introduced, including: 

• Ambient Assisted living – environmental support for independent life, encourages projects involving information-communication technology to assist the elderly in living independently. In the area of education and training this initiative promotes curricula that promotes the attainment of knowledge that will contribute to intergenerational solidarity. 
• The variety of activities under the umbrella of amateur culture is increasing, as is the number of participants of all ages in various activities. 
• Preventive actions are being undertaken to promote the safety of the elderly in traffic. 
• Intergovernmental collaboration to prevent violence directed towards the elderly, which includes the police, centres for social work, non-governmental organizations and local communities.