-
.
- Ελληνικά
It is a great honor for me to put under my auspices the 2nd Geri Olympics Cyprus - Greece - America and it is with feelings of joy and pride that I am here with you today, at the start of an event that focuses on healthy and active aging and is symbolic of agility and the tireless and indomitable spirit.
We are gathered here today not only to watch the games, but also to celebrate life in an era in which scientific and medical advances, as well as improvements in the quality of health and care services, mean that we have more years to offer and more opportunities in all areas, including sport.
Allow me at this point to congratulate for this great event and for its tremendous success the Kaimaklion House "Archangel Michael" and the Laboratory of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Geri Olympics is a good practice that corresponds to the international, modern policy for the Third Age, but also to the policy promoted by the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, which seeks to include the ageing dimension in all the policies we design.
The population is ageing in all modern states around the world and we are adapting to this change, both to meet the challenges and to provide the opportunities that arise.
It is in this context that the Ministry of Social Welfare is coordinating the first National Strategy and National Action Plan for the Third Age.
This is an ambitious Plan involving a total of eleven Ministries and Deputy Ministries, the implementation of which President Christodoulides himself is closely monitoring.
Aiming to cover all issues related to healthy and active ageing, quality living, socialisation and inclusion of older people, the National Strategy and Action Plan consists of three main pillars, which are subdivided into several thematic sections:
- Social Inclusion,
- Healthy Ageing and
- Diversity and Inequalities.
According to the Action Plan of the State Ministry of Social Welfare, which we have made public, the timetable for implementation of the National Strategy and Action Plan is next September. But it is quite possible that we will be able to submit a proposal to the Council of Ministers earlier, given the extremely constructive cooperation with all stakeholders.
Older people are the fastest growing segment of the population and are a heterogeneous group within which there are diverse situations, identities, needs, economic opportunities and possibilities.
Listening to the concerns of older people, their organisations and society at large, we are finalising and very shortly announcing the Older People's Residential Accommodation Subsidy Scheme. A Scheme, which will be targeted at our elderly fellow citizens [NOT NECESSARILY ONLY BENEFICIARIES OF THE EHIC], who need long-term care in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly, but cannot meet the increased costs required for the maintenance fees.
Our aim, in addition to providing financial support to our elderly fellow citizens, is also to improve the quality of care services provided. For this reason, the Plan will include criteria for the provision of quality services by the Homes, which will be binding for their inclusion in the programme.
Today we are not just fans. Today we are part of an event that honours the past, embraces the present and inspires the future. In these games, every participant and every participant is a champion and a champion. That is why I congratulate everyone at the beginning of the games, not at the end!
Let the games begin!
(MΘ/ΓΣ/EΠ)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
