Seniors: Priceless forces in volunteer work and business!

Seniors: Priceless forces in volunteer work and business!

International Volunteer Day is celebrated worldwide on December 5th, and this is the reason why Senior Citizens' Association President Ingrid Korosec is focusing on the tireless work of the older generation. These volunteers make an enormous contribution to society and, according to Korosec, the value of these volunteer activities is an impressive €8.6 billion annually. 80% of people in need of care are cared for at home by their relatives and friends. Korosec therefore calls for older people not to be viewed simply as a cost factor. “The volunteer work is unpaid, but priceless,” said the president, who also emphasized that the purchasing power of seniors is around 50 billion euros, which corresponds to around 25 percent of private consumption. These numbers clearly show that the older generation is not just a burden, but a supporting pillar of our society ots.at reported.

A call for appreciation

Ingrid Korosec not only supports the elderly on Volunteer Day, but also on Older People's Day, which is celebrated annually on October 1st. She calls for a paradigm shift in how we deal with seniors. This generation is not passive, but active and self-determined. Many older people, the “new old”, have 20 years of healthy life in which they can contribute their talents and experiences. “We are a supporting pillar of society,” Korosec states clearly and appeals to society to recognize the diverse contributions of seniors. She gives concrete figures: Voluntary activities that are worth the equivalent of 2.5 billion euros per year, and care tasks that are not worth a ridiculous 4 billion euros per year. All of this shows that seniors are not just a burden, but also essential actors in society seniorenbund.vienna underlined.

Korosec emphasizes that today's problems - from inflation to climate change - affect all generations. And while older people are often misunderstood as a cost factor, their experience and performance are essential to solving these challenges. “We have great creative power and we want to use this together with all social groups,” she explains and demands that the interests and experiences of the older generation be taken into account in all decision-making processes.