It is extremely important to stay active – both physically and socially – to stay fit. This year a total of PLN 100 million will be allocated for programs activating the elderly. This is PLN 60 million for the ‘Senior+’ program and PLN 40 million for the new ‘Active+’ program. ‘I would like to remind you that there are still calls for proposals for both of them – points out the Minister of Family and Social Policy, Marlena Maląg.
Loneliness and lack of activities are pains that accompany everyone sometimes, but for the elderly, they are particularly acute. This was evident during the pandemic, which greatly reduced opportunities to get out of the house, to interact with others.
– Despite the difficulties associated with the pandemic, our programs to activate the elderly have been carried out in one hundred per cent. We are talking about ‘Senior+’, which ended in 2020 and is continued in subsequent years, and the Government Program for Social Participation of Senior Citizens (ASOS). ASOS has been replaced by the new ‘Active+’ Multiannual Program for Older People for 2021-2025. We will allocate PLN 100 million for both these programs in 2021 – says the Minister of Family and Social Policy, Marlena Maląg.
The budget for the ‘Senior+’ program in 2021 is PLN 60 million, and for the ‘Active+’ program – PLN 40 million.
The call for proposals for the ‘Senior+’ long-term program for 2021-2025, edition 2021 has started. This is a subsidy for local government units to create new facilities and run existing ones.
It consists of two modules:
Module 1 of the program covers one-off financial support for the establishment (reconstruction or renovation of facilities or their parts, owned by a local government unit) and/or equipment of a support centre. Funding under this module is available up to 80 per cent of the total cost of implementing the task, which may not be higher than PLN 400 000 Day Care Center and PLN 200 thousand – in the case of the ‘Senior+’ Club.
Module 2 is to ensure the functioning of already existing support centres. Activities relating to the day-to-day running of the centre are subsidised under this module. The number of subsidies for the centres’ current operations will be no more than PLN 400 per month for one place in the ‘Senior Citizen’ Daily Home and no more than PLN 200 per month in the ‘Senior Citizen+’ Club.