3 hastrup-bh presentation - ifa conference - maj 2012 (1)

NGO’s and their roles and responsibilities in an ageing world

Promoting action for older people’s well being in a highly developed country based on the social welfare model

Bjarne Hastrup, CEO

IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing

DaneAge - briefly

• DaneAge is a not-for-profit, direct-membership organization

• 610,000 members; 30 % of all Danes 50+ are members

• Independent, non-partisan

• 217 local chapters across Denmark

• 12,000 volunteers doing social work, providing local membership activities, local advocacy, etc.

• Membership fees account for ¾ of the income

• The mission of DaneAge is to fight for a society in which all can live long and good lives: – the person is more important than the person’s age

– it is possible to live and to grow on your own terms

– support and care are available for those who need it

23 July 2012 2 IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing - Bjarne Hastrup, CEO

What we offer our members and society

• Communication of knowledge and attitudes toward politicians and society

• Help, support, care, presence

• Tools and skills

• Activities, forums, networks and experiences

• Membership benefits


More than 60,000 local activities

• Exercise

• Education

• Travel / excursions

• Culture

• Cooking courses and bridge

• Language courses

• Dance classes

• - and much more


Political results

• Commission on Elderly Affairs: Quality of Life in a nursing home

• Commission on Home Care

• Court proceedings – local authorities illegally reduce the amount of home care

• Senior benefit allowance

• Free influenza vaccine

• The right to choose a nursing home and to bring your spouse

• Reintroduction of the survivor's pension

• Holiday pay without early retirement reductions

• Rights instead of charity

• Prevention of cuts in housing benefit

• Restricted welfare reform


Is DaneAge independent from government?

Does DaneAge act on behalf of older people?

• We can not levy taxes – we are obligated to our members and must therefore live up to their trust

• We should hit the mark, be aware of members' wishes, dreams, expectations and concerns

• We must think from the “outside in”

• We must stay abreast of future developments




• A certain number of members is needed in order to be heard by politicians

• Members = resources for our work

• A lot of members provide access to more knowledge and more inspiration

• Finally – members represent our market value – it reflects public satisfaction with our performance and results




• Membership renewals are “scarily high” – 96%

• Three out of four members are satisfied or very satisfied


Is the current economic crisis a threat or an opportunity to NGO’s

• The pessimists are leading the way and are talking down the economy

• ”Everybody” talks about, how we cannot afford welfare

• We forget the principles and the ideas behind the universal welfare model

• Older people are sometimes portrayed as “rich

and spoiled” in the public debate

• DaneAge is focused on the frail elderly's situation


Actual and potential political threats

• Local authorities will continue to downsize quoting the economic crisis and budget accountability

• User fees are imposed on practical home help

• A tax reform which completely ignores pensioners

• Indexation of state pensions

• Additional income modulation of state pensions

• Enforced online communication with the public sector


That’s why we are on high alert


• We must sleep with a gun under the pillow - cocked and ready to fire


3 hastrup-bh presentation - ifa conference - maj 2012 (1)

Health & Medicine

older people

bjarne hastrup

daneage act

daneage independent

daneage

society

members

live