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ability to apply modern communication and
information technologies (computers, the Internet).
The latter seems to be the most acute
problem. Senior citizens have experienced a
breakthrough rather than evolutionary technological
progress. It should be noted that
this problem relates to the present generation
of seniors; the situation is dynamic and in
15-20 years’ time senior citizens will enjoy basic
competence in modern technologies which
will tend to evolve rather than leapfrog.
5. It is very important to persuade senior citizens
that devoting one’s time and effort to represent
the group’s interest makes sense. In
other words, they may be successful in public
life. Bearing this in mind it is worth noting
that senior citizens are often unaware of their
political power and they lack self-assurance,
which are two prerequisites for efficiency. On
top of that, they should be very aware of the
fact that their personal situation depends on
public welfare and hence it is hard to affect
one’s life (pro domo sua attitude) without influencing
public decision making (pro publico
bono approach).
6. Socially committed senior citizens tend to
be representatives of the middle class. Good
education, income and professional standing
are conducive to civic involvement.
One cannot disregard the differences in situations
in the project countries. The most significant
relate to:
1. The number and quality of the existing structures
representing senior citizens’ needs,
which vary widely. The organisational structures
are relatively robust in Germany, Switzerland
and the UK while they are non-existent
in Bulgaria, Italy and Poland. The German
model is very well-developed, with structures
formally coordinating specific organisations
operating at municipalities, counties and on
a national level. They have the status of ‘umbrella
organisations’. For historical reasons, in
Poland, attempts to build up structures superior
to specific, individual initiatives or organisations
are still unwelcome. This holds true at
central, regional and local levels alike.
2. The number and quality of the existing training
programmes for senior citizens keen on
representing the interest of their environment
varies significantly from one country to another.
3. The attitude of public authorities (local, regional
and central) towards senior citizens.
For example, in Germany, public monies (at
the municipality, county, regional and central
government level) regularly finance ongoing
operations of the aforementioned coordinating
structures. In Poland, the public administration’s
policy is determined to co-finance
projects only, and usually those lasting not
longer than one year. Granting financial support
to regular activities is considered pointless.
This attitude, groundless in Polish conditions
(justified in countries with effective
mechanisms of non-public sponsoring) prevents
the stability necessary for the developing
activities.
The situation in Poland
An analysis of the situation in Poland conducted
as part of the project and in cooperation with
senior citizens leads to a conclusion that the following
circumstances need to be highlighted:
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