Senior -friendly communities: Hollenstein, Kematen and Waidhofen

Senior -friendly communities: Hollenstein, Kematen and Waidhofen

d he has become more important for the concerns of older people in recent years. The municipalities of Hollenstein, Kematen and Waidhofen on the Ybbs were recently honored. This recognition took place in the ballroom of the Lower Austria Chamber of Lower Austria in St. Pölten, on the occasion of the international day of the older generation on September 23.

The initiative for the award has existed since 2002 and aims to honor the commitment of communities in Lower Austria, which are particularly concerned with the older population. This is important because older people are often dependent on support, and the communities are in the best position to respond to the specific needs of this group. Each of the excellent communities has been offering information events on social issues since this year and is organizing monthly free social counseling by social combinations.

The role of the social combinations

The social combinations act as contact for older citizens, they help with problems and offer advice. "Senior -friendly communities take care of the weaker in our society. That is what makes a society," said Andreas Kollross, the President of the Lower Austria Community Association, during the award. This role is particularly central because many older people may not dare to present their concerns about the traditional paths.

The awards were presented by prominent representatives, including State Councilor Sven Hergovich and the President of Volkshilfe Lower Austria, Ewald Sacher. Sacher thanked the numerous volunteers who are committed as social combinations and thus make a significant contribution to improve the lives of the elderly in the communities.

The honor of these three communities in the Ybbstal is not only recognition of their previous efforts, but also motivates other communities to set similar goals. The more communities are committed to the needs of older people, the stronger the community becomes overall, and the commitment can cause these important concerns to receive more attention even at the political level.

The Association of Social Democratic Community representatives in Lower Austria (Lower Austria GVV) in cooperation with the Pensioners Association Lower Austria (PVNÖ) and the Volkshilfe Lower Austria (VHNÖ) has initiated the award, which also underlines the importance of such an initiative.