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TRAMP – Transnational Mobility of Older People in Europe
70 Part II
About this checklist
Some transnational exchange programmes and educational projects also apply
to older people past 50 in particular. The special needs and wishes of this
target group have to be considered in the planning and organisational stages
of these projects. Despite the heterogeneous group of participants it is rather
likely that people will take an increasing interest in lifelong learning as they
age, and yet their mobility will often be restricted.
The following notes shall draw attention to potential barriers to the mobility
of older people and simplify the planning and organisation of transnational
programmes with information and recommendations. The understanding
of the needs of older people is rather important, since autonomy and mobility
are decisive factors for physical and emotional wellbeing and a precondition
for active ageing. Mobility in this context is seen as physical and mental potential
– therefore problems may arise in the emotional as well as in the cognitive
sphere and also because of the participants’ social or material conditions.
The results of the ENEA project TRIGGER which was carried out between
2004 and 2005 prove this. A survey among the participants of TRIG-
GER showed that very basic factors were seen as preconditions for retaining
mobility up to an old age as for example the improvement of social status or
of the material or legal situation of older people. They requested participation
in social life by political or honorary activities, face-to-face contact or personal
exchange via internet as well as access to educational and cultural activities.
In addition, a number of factors were mentioned in the context of TRIG-
GER which refer to the topic of mobility of older people in transnational
exchange programmes and educational activities and which might help information
multipliers and coordinators of these programmes. In addition to
a survey conducted during the TRIGGER project the following checklist is
based on literature research and statements of experts on the planning and
organisation of transnational projects. It has been revised and updated according
to experiences within the TRAMP project.
The details about the target group imply that we have to take a differentiated
look at “older people”. Whenever “older people” are mentioned hereafter,
it refers to particular groups of older people, while naturally there are groups
which do not have these problems and/or impediments. It remains the coordinators’
duty to find out the characteristics of their particular group and to
integrate these observations into their planning and organising procedure.