The Seniors' Advisory Council is an advisory body of the city that assists the city administration and the city council in all matters relating to senior citizens' policy. It works on a non-partisan, non-denominational, independent and intergenerational basis and is available to people aged 60+ as a point of contact for suggestions and questions.
The Seniors' Advisory Council was founded in 1974, and former mayor Ursula Rechtenbacher made a great contribution to its establishment. It is largely thanks to her that Erlangen was the first city in Bavaria to establish a senior citizens' advisory council. The decisive factor for the foundation was the insufficient number of care places in Erlangen. Ursula Rechtenbacher was very keen to make the living conditions of the older generation an issue and to bring them to the attention of the city council through a representative body. During her term of office, all the issues that are still valid today and more so than ever were addressed.
Ursula Rechtenbacher was succeeded as chairperson by Jutta Helm, Helga Steeger and Anette Christian, and today it is Dinah Radtke. They all felt committed to the demographic challenges:
Many people have recognized how important and diverse the work for senior citizens is. Around a quarter of Erlangen's population is 60+. As the Seniors' Advisory Council, we strive to improve living conditions for this group in the city. Important topics are Participation in life in society, accessibility, intergenerational living on a rental basis, loneliness, mobility, social networking in the neighborhood, quality of life, care, compassionate community, exchange with partner cities, bench radar, etc.
The cooperation between the Senior Citizens' Advisory Council and the Erlangen adult education center has been very successful with "themed breakfasts", an afternoon film series and the lecture series "Lebenslust statt Altersfrust". In cooperation with the Department of Culture, we bring the Poetry Festival to two senior citizens' facilities in Erlangen, for example. Or organize small concerts with other partners, such as during Advent or at "La Fête de la Musique". There are also activities supported by individual members of the Seniors' Advisory Council. They bring people together in various neighborhoods. These include the Ukraine senior citizens' café in St. Heinrich and the AWO district café in Büchenbach.
On July 10, we celebrated our 50 years of activities for the benefit of senior citizens in Erlangen in the presence of our Lord Mayor Dr. Florian Janik and guests from the city. The public relations working group of the Senior Citizens' Advisory Council had put together a varied program, including entertaining portraits of Erlangen's senior citizens in old age, our "top seniors".
Dinah Radtke
Chairwoman of the Senior Citizens' Advisory Council of the City of Erlangen
