Voluntary senior citizen advisers, Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen

In the Bavarian district of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen, voluntary senior citizen advisers are trained to serve as mobile touchpoints. Their deployment and networking activities, and the provision of regular further training courses are organised by full-time staff. The senior citizen advisers are known to the municipal authorities and, when requested by either institutions or private individuals, provide their mobile advisory services throughout the catchment area. Informational events are held on age-related topics such as housing and housing forms, neighbourhood help schemes, long-term care insurance and mobile care services. A wide range of additional services are offered in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders. These include a community centre, a recreational programme and the provision of lunch-time meals. Because the district has no dedicated longterm care centre, the mobile touchpoints provide important information pools for elderly people and their family members.

The creation of a district-level senior citizens forum provides an ongoing process in which new projects are initiated with a focus on demographic change.