In Tilburg, we want everyone to be able to participate at every stage of their lives, and if they cannot do so on their own, then with appropriate support. We see that people are vital and active into old age. However, we also see vulnerable older adults in our city who need attention. More and more residents of Tilburg belong to the older adult population. Often, people are still vital and active as they age, but this is not the case for all residents. In the previous Administrative Agreement, we agreed to develop an integral view on older adults, in which we lay down how we facilitate and support older adults that they can continue to participate in a safe environment, are not lonely, but remain valuable, and can use their talents and receive appropriate support when they need it.

We want to facilitate and support our ageing population so that they can continue to participate and use their talents.

In doing so, we focus at least on the following themes:
– Living (with accessible and appropriate facilities)
– Subsistence security
– Participation
– Appropriate support

The council adopted the memorandum “An Integral Look at Older People” in September 2019. The memorandum was one of the seven themes and policy fields within the framework memorandum “Strengthening Social and Resilient Tilburg 2020-2023” adopted by the council. To implement the integrated approach, the “Implementation Programme GGoud” was adopted by the council. This started in 2020 for three years.

But the issue of (double) ageing is growing and so is the urgency. With the Healthy and Happy Ageing in Tilburg programme, we are pursuing the ambition to work together with the older adults and creating conditions for a pleasant and enjoyable environment to grow old happily in one’s own way in Tilburg.

The research memorandum “Healthy and Happy Old Age in Tilburg, Also in 2030/2040 Inspiration for Acceleration and Customization in Renewal” has shown that the absolute and relative increase in the ageing population and number of people living at home is becoming so large that it calls for an extra effort from the entire Tilburg society. The cooperation agenda of the sixteen GGoud partners is an important basis for the GGoud 2024-2026 Implementation Programme. Central are the four accelerations from this cooperation agenda for which the municipality is the lead agency and for which acceleration and customisation are needed. These accelerations will be implemented integrally and are detailed in the Implementation Programme 2024-2026 both in terms of objectives and intended results in 2026.

These accelerations are:
– District-based and urban approach to dementia-friendly Tilburg;
– Preparing for ageing/renewing 3rd stage of life awareness campaign;
– Reaching older people with migration background and cultural sensitivity;
– Cohesive networks around ageing.