“Old, poor, alone?”
Description
29.4 percent of the population is 60 years or older. But many people are a long way from a worry-free, fulfilling retirement, because the reality of life for millions of pensioners is characterized by material disadvantages and social isolation. Social structural changes in general and the effects of the corona pandemic and inflation in particular are exacerbating loneliness. The poverty rate among older people has also been rising for years. The lecture outlines the developments and presents explanations. Building on this, it describes how German social policy deals with these problems and what weak points exist. Ultimately it becomes clear that in addition to political action, low-threshold social work is also necessary. There is a need for advisory services and concepts that ensure social participation for older people.
The project “The Red Thread for Retirement” is carried out as part of the program “Strengthening the participation of older people – against loneliness and social isolation” by the Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and by the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus ( ESF Plus).