Impulses for healthy aging: Enthusiastic specialist day in Vechta!

Impulses for healthy aging: Enthusiastic specialist day in Vechta!

On October 1, 2025, an important specialist conference took place at the University of Vechta, which was organized as part of the Federal Government's Ninth Age Report. This event, which took place in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ), was led by Prof. Dr. Andrea Teti, expert in gerontology. It was supported by funds from the “zukunft.niedersachsen” program and addressed central aspects such as aging, health and participation.

The discussion was moderated by Timo Fuchs, who made a significant contribution to the active discussion of the topics. A particular focus was on health promotion and prevention in urban areas as well as medical and nursing care. Three parallel symposia in the afternoon covered relevant topics such as health, housing and mobility, which contributed to the development of the district.

Integration of housing and healthcare

The final discussion highlighted the need to link the areas of housing, healthcare and participation. Experts called for a holistic mindset in neighborhoods and emphasized the importance of the “caring community” concept. It became clear that the market alone is not able to overcome the challenges of demographic change. It is crucial that society finds new answers to the changing needs of older people.

Another important point was the view that care for the elderly should be viewed as a compulsory service in the context of demographic change. The discussion also included the legal structure of these offers of assistance and the responsibility of municipalities for support services. It was reported that some municipalities have already achieved positive long-term effects through investments in public services and participation.

Call to strengthen municipal services of general interest

Parallel to the conference, discussions also took place about bureaucratic hurdles that pose a challenge for many innovative forms of living. These solutions are often only accessible to a privileged group of people. The experts therefore called for greater support from local public services in order to make these offers more widely available.

The Elderly Report Commission, which has been regularly evaluating the living situation of older people in Germany since 1993, recognizes the central role of municipalities in senior policy. The Seventh Report on Senior Citizens has already formulated recommendations for action that emphasize the sustainable development of senior citizen policy at the local level. These recommendations underline the responsibility of municipalities for public services and the need to strengthen local support structures. Minister Manuela Schwesig emphasized the importance of these measures for the quality of life of older people.

The event in Vechta was part of a comprehensive process to pass on the findings of the Ninth Age Report and influence age policy in Germany. The series of events to present the findings will conclude on November 6, 2025, with the results expected to significantly shape the future work of the responsible commissions.

The requirements for politics, especially with regard to age policy, are clearly defined: The federal government should provide impulses, create a legal framework and provide financial resources. A watered-down approach alone is not sufficient. The challenges of an aging society require coordinated efforts at all levels to ensure social and fair participation for all generations.

For further information about current developments in aging research and health policy, you can view the comprehensive reports from the Robert Koch Institute, which shed more light on the health and social conditions of older people. Additional details can be found in the older Old Age Reports and the current Ninth Old Age Report.

University of Vechta reports that...
Demographics portal covers...
Robert Koch Institute has informed...