Socialising

Socialising is essential because it is by being with others that we shape who we are and preserve our well-being. Having a social life is a sign of fitting in with society and a way to continue having a purpose.

Having projects, taking an interest in others, seeing the world, going out, visiting people and laughing are activities that are essential to our well-being.

These activities can take many forms, such as:

  • joining a seniors club;
  • taking classes;
  • volunteering for a charity work;
  • playing a sport;
  • going to the theatre or cinema;
  • travelling, etc.

The most important thing is to enjoy meeting other people and spending time with them.

To avoid becoming socially isolated, try to live in your own home for as long as possible, maintain contact with others, and take part in activities. The Ministry of Family Affairs and Integration has published a 'Practical Guide for Seniors' that includes details of a number of charities offering activities and services for senior citizens.

Seniors' Clubs

Seniors' clubs are regional centres for elderly people. They seek to encourage independence and help elderly people stay in their own homes, but do not offer accommodation services.

Their activity programmes are diverse and include:

  • get-togethers (coffee mornings, board games, etc.);
  • leisure and cultural activities (walks, shopping trips, tours, etc.);
  • training courses (lectures, courses on new technologies, etc.);
  • dining (meals on wheels, family parties, etc.);
  • guidance (information on medical and social legislation, medical and legal consultations, etc.);
  • support (help with administrative formalities, management of finances, guidance on health, diet, hygiene, etc.).

RBS Service

The RBS service of the Seniors' Training Institute and Academy (Institut de formation et Académie seniors), which was set up in 1989 on the initiative of the Ministry of Family Affairs and Integration, operates in the fields of help for and working with elderly people.

It manages a continuous training institute intended for staff who look after elderly people. The RBS service also organises a senior citizens' academy for people over the age of 50. The academy provides participants with opportunities to broaden their knowledge and expand their horizons, or simply maintain contact with like-minded people. It offers classes and seminars aimed at improving elderly people's mental and physical well-being, and offers a wide range of intellectual and cultural activities.

Amiperas

The non-profit organisation Amiperas (exchange between retired, elderly or solitary people) was founded in 1963, and toady boasts some 20,000 members in around 100 local sections.

Alongside its political or trade union activities, Amiperas also organises cultural and social activities (trips abroad, charity concerts, fashion shows, sporting events, theatre, radio programmes, etc.).

Amiperas seeks to bring elderly people together, regardless of whether they are retired, elderly or lonely, with a view to providing advice, support, and assistance in social, cultural and other matters.

Publication

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