Senior Citizens' Union sounds the alarm: Deggendorf Declaration for older citizens!

Senior Citizens' Union sounds the alarm: Deggendorf Declaration for older citizens!

In the beautiful city of Deggendorf, on July 18, 2025, the Seniors' Union, together with the Bavarian State Seniors' Council, initiated exciting discussions about senior-friendly local politics. The organizers placed a clear focus on the concerns of older citizens and presented the “Deggendorf Declaration”, a document that formulates concrete demands on politics and society in order to strengthen the rights and participation of older people. How oberpfalzecho.de reports, the members met in the state assembly of the Seniors' Union, and guests of honor such as Hilde Mack and Peter Klein from the Bavarian State Seniors' Council were also present.

The state chairman Franz Meyer and the state manager Karin Eiden welcomed the participants and gave the starting signal for a lively panel discussion. Under the succinct theme of “Municipalities in Bavaria – livable, lovable and suitable for seniors”, the challenges and opportunities of municipal senior policy were discussed. In his speech, the Bavarian Prime Minister emphasized the central role of senior representatives in the social structure and emphasized how important intergenerational communities are for social cohesion.

The challenges of senior policy

With demographic change, the municipalities in Bavaria are facing particular challenges. How stmas.bayern.de explains, the aspects of accessibility, participation opportunities, infrastructure and health care are essential factors that need to be taken into account. Districts and independent cities must develop integrative senior policy concepts (SPGK) that are based on a detailed analysis of the needs of older citizens.

The “Deggendorf Declaration” provides an important impetus in this regard. It not only calls for increased participation of older people in the implementation of the SPGK, but also measures that make life in the community easier for them. This includes barrier-free access, the development of different forms of living, and support options at home - after all, active participation in society for older people should be made as good as possible.

Initiatives and programs

A particularly interesting model is the “Active Generation-Friendly Community” program, which was tested in Upper Palatinate from 2018 to 2022. This program supports communities with up to 10,000 inhabitants in implementing their senior policy concepts. An attempt was made to develop a new model for the older generation with future workshops, regional innovation competitions and “round tables for senior citizens”. The evaluation of these measures was carried out by the German Geriatric Aid Board (KDA), and the results were presented at a specialist conference in Nuremberg.

The clear message of the day in Deggendorf was unmistakable: The Senior Citizens' Union is actively committed to ensuring that the voices of older people are heard and that their needs play a central role in local politics. The “Deggendorf Declaration” is a forward-looking step that could have an impact not only locally, but also in the larger Bavarian context. Commitment to senior policy remains an important issue in order to lead a fulfilling life in old age and continue to be part of the community.