Porto, Portugal “Participatory forums give a voice to the elderly in the development of policies for all”
Fulfilling the mission of giving a voice to the elderly population in the development of policies that impact their lives in various aspects, the Municipality of Porto promoted, along with the users of the Centro Social de Soutelo – Centro de Dia e Convívio da Corujeira, the third session of the Fóruns Participativos de Envelhecimento Ativo e Saudável na Cidade do Porto.
Through this initiative, the municipality “reaffirms its commitment to building a city where all generations have a voice and a place,” emphasized the Councilor for Social Cohesion. Fernando Paulo believes that these participatory spaces “represent much more than moments of debate. They are essential tools for listening to the elderly, understanding their needs, and including their perspectives in the development of public policies.”
The councilor also noted that “in the national and local context, where population aging is an urgent reality, initiatives like these allow us to respond concretely to the challenges of loneliness, isolation, and inclusion.” “In Porto, we believe that aging can and should be lived with dignity, meaning, and active participation. Through dialogue and shared responsibility, we are building a more inclusive, innovative, and age-friendly city,” concluded Fernando Paulo.
In this third session of the Fóruns Participativos, the opportunity was given to explore the issues experienced by the elderly and to prioritize the emerging problems, as well as to analyze their causes.
By providing the elderly with a space to express their truly significant opinions and issues, the initiative is based on the premise that only those who live in Porto possess the intrinsic knowledge necessary to truly contribute to its transformation.
In this context, the forum emerges as a tool for democratizing the decision-making process, recognizing the importance of the voices of the elderly. This participatory exercise, inspired by social innovation methodologies, is seen as an essential mechanism not only for strengthening community ties but also for supporting the development of policies, initiatives, and recommendations that are more aligned with the needs and realities of the city’s elderly residents.
Thus, the participatory forum aims to be a catalyst for positive change, contributing to the construction of a more inclusive city that is adapted to the needs of the elderly.
See the original news article here: https://www.porto.pt/pt/noticia/foruns-participativos-dao-voz-aos-idosos-no-desenvolvimento-de-politicas-para-todos