The resolution adopted by the government establishes a new multiannual programme for the elderly “Active+.” The government programme will operate between 2021-2025, and each year its budget will amount to PLN 40 million.

The objective and priorities of the programme

The main objective of the government’s “Active+” programme is to increase the participation of the elderly in all areas of social life.

The priority of the government’s policy is to support seniors in as many areas as possible. We particularly care to ensure for the seniors to remain active for the longest time, to develop their competences and interests in the later stages of life, and to treat population ageing as a challenge and an opportunity for development rather than a threat – says the Minister of Family and Social Policy Marlena Maląg and adds that the new programme will become an important tool in the implementation of the government’s policy towards seniors.

Under the government programme “Active+”, non-governmental organisations as well as other authorised entities acting for the benefit of the elderly will be eligible to apply for co-financing for the projects in the amount between PLN 25 thousand up to PLN 250 thousand.

The co-financing is granted in four priority areas.

• Social activities which include activities aiming to increase the participation of the elderly in active leisure activities, the support for the elderly who are not self-reliant and their living environment, development of the voluntary work of the elderly in the local environment and increasing the involvement of the elderly in the labour market.
• Social participation which contributes to strengthening the self-organisation of seniors and to the increase the influence seniors have on the quality of life of citizens.
• Digital inclusion, including measures to improve the skills of the elderly to use modern technologies and new media, and to promote and implement inclusive technology and the safe functioning of seniors.
• Preparation for old age through strengthening lasting relations between generations, fostering a positive image of the elderly and enhancing the security of seniors.

The call for proposals under the government programme “Active+” will open at the beginning of 2021.

The government's “Active+” programme rules will be adapted to the epidemiological situation in the country. This will allow to make full use of the potential of NGOs to carry out activities aimed at increasing the participation of the elderly in order to counter the negative social consequences of the ongoing pandemic. The implemented projects will make the everyday lives of the elderly more varied, and will provide them with completely safe and diverse forms of activity adapted to their needs and opportunities – Minister Marlena Maląg explains.

Continuation of Policy Towards Seniors

In recent years, the Ministry of Family and Social Policy has implemented two multi-annual government programmes in support of the social activity of the elderly: the “Senior+” programme (addressed to local government units) and the Government Programme for Social Participation of Senior Citizens for the period 2014-2020 (addressed to NGOs).

The programmes have allowed to increase the range of activities and initiatives targeted at the elderly, and thus stimulated their activity and improved the quality of their lives.

A total of PLN 280 million were allocated to the financing of the Government Programme for Social Participation of Senior Citizens (2014-2020) from the state budget Nearly 1.4 million seniors, including elderly people with disabilities benefited from over 2,700 projects carried out throughout Poland. In turn, under the “Senior+” programme, nearly PLN 235 million zlotys were dedicated to establishing and maintaining facilities located in Poland. Between 2015 and 2019, 770 “Senior+” facilities which offer over 19 thousand places for seniors were established.

Both programmes, however, end in 2020, but the full offer of the activities for senior citizens will continue through the new government “Active+” programme and the new “Senior+” programme – Minister Marlena Maląg says.