Bavarian prevention award for Erlangen ride-sharing rickshaw

"Streetwork for Seniors: Duett Rikscha+Fahrer" by Initiative Erlangen e. V. is a free rickshaw ride service for older people in Büchenbach. The week before last, it was awarded the Bavarian Prevention Prize in the category "Prevention in old age" by Health Minister Judith Gerlach at the Munich Residence (Photo: Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care).

In her laudatory speech, Gerlach emphasized: "What a great volunteer project! You offer a very charming transportation service, because driving a rickshaw is a special way of getting around. With this service, you support the participation of older people. On the one hand, because you make mobility easily accessible and uncomplicated. Secondly, because communication is always part of your journey. We all know how important participation and social contacts are for health. That's why: Thank you for this remarkable civic commitment!"

What is the Bavarian Prevention Award?

The Bavarian Ministry of Health honors outstanding projects and achievements in health promotion and prevention in Bavaria. The prize has been awarded since 2002 and is presented in five categories:

• Prevention in the family
• Daycare centers and schools
• Prevention in training centers and companies
• Prevention in old age
• Promotion of equal health opportunities.

There is also an additional category focusing on the prevention of loneliness. The prize money amounts to 2,000 euros per category. A total of 93 projects from all over Bavaria applied for the 16th Bavarian Prevention Award.

What exactly is the free rickshaw service for older people in Büchenbach?

It was created as part of the project "Gesund älter werden in Büchenbach-Nord (GÄWIN)" (Getting older healthily in Büchenbach-North), which was funded by the GKV-Spitzenverband and launched by the municipal office for sport and health promotion in 2021. The GKV-Spitzenverband is the central lobby of the statutory health and long-term care insurance funds in Germany.

The aim of the project is to promote the health of lonely and elderly people. In a needs assessment among

• older people
• people who live independently but hardly participate in public life

the offer was ranked number one after participatory prioritization.

The concept is working: Demand is increasing and the target group uses the service regularly. Last year, 314 people were reached. The participation of older people is increasing

• through the provision of information about offers in the district and
• the simultaneous possibility of getting there by rickshaw.

Examples include trips to social lunches, exercise classes, medical appointments or shopping. People are accompanied personally and therefore feel safer.

The trips are carried out on a voluntary basis. Repairs, parking, maintenance of the rickshaws, insurance and public relations work are financed by donations.

(A short report can be found in the city newspaper "Rathausplatz 1" - October 2024 issue)