As part of the International Day of Older Persons, Carina Dantas, our Action Chair, was invited to take part in the first National Conference to Promote Active and Successful Ageing, which took place at the Convento de S. Francisco in Coimbra, on the 3rd of October.
Carina Dantas was a speaker at the plenary session of this national conference, an initiative of Coimbra City Council and its recently created Gerontology and Active Ageing Office. She had the privilege of presenting how SHINE is promoting inclusive communities through social innovation based on the SHAFE approach – Smart Healthy Age-Friendly Environments.
She showed how SHAFE was implemented through the COST NET4Age-Friendly Action which currently has more than 700 members in 51 countries. She presented the materials and results developed in the SIRENE project, coordinated by SHINE, which consists of a Coordination and Support Action for the European Commission, funded under the Horizon Europe programme.
Carina Dantas says that “Working with great partners and actors from all areas is the key to having meaningful and impactful initiatives. That’s why this conference was a great milestone in bringing Coimbra together around such an important theme.”
The main aim of the conference was to promote the dissemination of knowledge and to encourage and motivate municipalities and social sector entities to create or replicate good practices in the area of active and successful ageing, covering topics such as ageing in place, cohousing, support programmes for informal carers, negative social representations associated with old age and ageing, loneliness and social isolation, gerontotechnology, compassionate communities, elderly-friendly workplaces, among others.
By integrating new ideas, collaborations and technologies, NET4 aims to leave its testimony on how to improve people’s quality of life, ensuring that no-one is left behind. A truly inclusive society is one in which every individual is valued and has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their abilities, background or condition.