Swiss Seniors' Council
The Swiss Seniors' Council (SSR) was set up by the Federal Council in 2001 as a consultative body. It represents the economic and social concerns of older people vis-à-vis the federal parliament, the Federal Council, the federal authorities, associations, institutions, the media and the public.
organization
The SSR has the legal form of an association. Members are the two umbrella organizations for senior citizens 'associations in Switzerland: the Association for Senior Citizens' Issues (SVS) and the Association of Active Seniors and Self-Help Organizations in Switzerland (VASOS) . They send 16 delegates each to the council and one member each to the copresidium. The highest body is the assembly of delegates, which consists of all 34 council members.
aims
As a lobby group, the SSR wants to work to preserve the dignity, quality of life and autonomy of older people and promote the participation of older generations in society and solidarity between the generations. With its work, the council wants to contribute to the further development of a generational and socially compatible social safety net for the entire population. He represents senior citizens in the federal commissions for Swiss old-age pension AHV / IV and housing, in specialist committees and is a member of organizations that are actively involved in the areas of old age policy. It gives its opinion in federal consultations on planned laws.
Service contract with the federal government
The role of the SSR is outlined in the Federal Council's strategy for a Swiss age policy from 2007. The funds for the council operation come from the aid fund of the state old-age and survivors' insurance (AHV). The objectives of the mission are set out in a contract with the Federal Social Insurance Office.
founding
The Seniors' Council was founded on November 26, 2001. At the suggestion of Federal Councilor Ruth Dreifuss , those affected should represent their interests themselves and actively participate in social life in order to express their needs. These functions should be performed by them, not by experts.
A year later, representatives of the Seniors' Council in the Swiss delegation took part in the 2nd UN World Conference on Aging in Madrid . The resulting action plan still largely determines Swiss age policy today. Since then, the Council has been involved in the international process of the participation of the older population in decisions that affect them and advocates their say at the level of the cantons and municipalities.
Current
Current priorities of the SSR are the "fight" against age discrimination and the commitment to the pension reform initiated by Federal Councilor Alain Berset . Another area of activity is dealing with the diverse possibilities of ambient assisted living for the purpose of long-term maintenance of autonomy thanks to technical assistance systems. Medical care is of central importance in a long-life society; at present it is primarily questions of long-term care and its financing. Other focal points are the participation of older people in the information society and the consideration of the specific needs of seniors with a migration background .