Background Due to demographic changes and a widely supported policy of ageing in place, the number of older people, who live alone will increase immensely. Thus, supportive residential neighbourhoods enabling older people to age in place successfully are required. Besides age-friendly housing, safe environments and availability of public transport possibilities to connect with other (older) adults in the neighbourhood are crucial for the well-being of older people. Research shows that people with strong social connections live longer, have better mental health, improved physical health and are happier. Especially due to the coronavirus experience we are convinced that the promotion of face-to-face contacts between older people and the establishment of supportive neighbourhoods that provide instrumental and emotional support is more essential than ever. The main idea The main idea is to establish and test neighbourhood training groups, where older and very old people meet regularly and support each other in (re-)detecting and bringing in their talents, fulfilling their dreams, facing challenges of everyday life and finding ways to actively contribute to their communities. The aim is to encourage face-to-face contacts with people who live within 5 to 10 minutes walk from each other to • build mutual supportive networks • take the control of their own life and find solutions for challenges in daily life (in the sense of entrepreneurship) • extend their individual networks • find creative ways of expressing their perspectives and ideas The project´s approach is to provide external impulses and nudge joint activities within the neighbourhood groups. Therefore, at the beginning of the joint process participants will be supported to realise concrete activities (O3) that helps to develop a sense of community and belonging by giving them a common “goal”. The general idea is that the neighbourhood groups themselves will define their purpose, develop joint activities and ways on how to support each other. In partner countries (Austria, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Netherlands) 8-12 neighbourhood training groups will be established to be tested, involving up to 180 older people. Furthermore, events (E1-E4) and concrete activities (O3) are planned. Experience show that these are a helpful strategies to attract and involve many other older people and stakeholders. The low-threshold training setting – neighbourhood groups – support also the inclusion of older & very old people with low formal education (e.g. older migrants, women, who have never been employed) and little experience in formal trainings. Furthermore, older people are not only participants/recipients but are actively involved in the development and testing of outcomes: 1. As co-coordinators of the neighbourhood training groups and – together with the project team – they will develop the concept and establish the neighbourhood training groups in their communities (O2). In each partner country 2-3 older volunteers will be involved. 2. Older participants bring in their perspectives and abilities (O3) as well as their experience gained within the project (O4 and O5). 3. Participants will actively contribute to face-to-face meetings with European project partners. Procedure Dreamlike Neighbourhood will be implemented through the following steps: RESEARCH & PREPARATION Based on EU research on the issue of supporting neighbourhoods partner countries and at EU level and information on the project a Fact sheet (O1) is elaborated. DEVELOPING & TESTING Based on the research partners develop a draft concept of the neighbourhood groups (including organisational and content issue) and – in close cooperation with older volunteers – will establish to test neighbourhood training groups in their settings (O2). Besides methods promoting interactions, individual reflections and mutual support also creative formats will encourage participants in dealing with the issue of supportive neighbourhood and expressing their perspectives and views (O3). SUMMARIZING EXPERIENCE & DEVELOPING RESOURCES FOR PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY Organisations not directly involved in the project obtain low-threshold information on the approach and experiences gained in the Handbook (O4) and the Online Resource Kit (O5). Multiplier Events at regional (E1-4) and EU (E5) level support the dissemination of project results. Keeping horizontal & specific priorities in mind, Dreamlike Neighbourhood supports the social inclusion, civic engagement and learning of older and very old people and (older) volunteers – groups considered as disadvantaged and difficult to reach learners. Innovative practices in ICT will be considered in several project activities (e.g. O3). In terms of transferability partners develop methods and tools that can easily transferred to other target groups, countries, regions & settings
Objective 1: Support older and very old people to (re-)detect their interests and abilities and make meaningful connections in their communities Objective 2: Establish low-threshold and encouraging settings (neighbourhood groups) to promote supporting neighbourhoods Objective 3: Raise awareness for the relevance of supporting neighbourhood and (possible) contributions of older people Objective 4: Disseminate successful ways of establishing supporting neighbourhoods among decision makers and stakeholders Objective 5: Sustain project results by cooperating with interested parties Indikators: • Interviews with 8-10 older people, stakeholders and experts in AT, NL, SLO and CZ (-> Fact sheet O1) • Facilitated neighbourhood groups in AT, NL, SLO, CZ, involving 80-180 older people • Handbook (O4) available in English, German, Slovenian, Dutch & Czech (100 copies/country) • Online Resource Kit (O5) available (available at the website, 100 visits) • EU Final Event with 30 stakeholders • National Events in AT/NL/SL/CZ with 30-50 stakeholders
Based on their long-standing experiences in adult education and community building, partners were convinced that • we need neighbourhoods that celebrate their inhabitants and make them visible. Neighbourhoods that invite each of us regardless of our diversity to connect meaningfully with each other, contribute our ideas and talents and co-create our (social) environment. • we all benefit from good neighbourhoods: they give us a sense of belonging, support our identity and offer security. They provide us with support if needed, protect us from loneliness and contribute considerably to our wellbeing and health. • not only do older people profit from good neighbourhoods, they can also contribute a lot if they feel welcome, appreciated and are given opportunities to participate. • the best opportunities for older people to participate are those set up by them and with them, rather than for them. • especially in times of a pandemic, lockdowns and other restrictions, opportunities that strengthen the togetherness and mutual support are essential. These aspects motivated us to facilitate neighbourhood groups of and with older and very old people and enable connections and active contributions of older people in their communities.