France’s ‘Bien vielillir – vivre ensemble’
In France, the new label “bien-vieillir – vivre ensemble” was officially launched on 15 July 2009 as a continuance of the national programme “Bien vieillir (Ageing Well) 2007-2009”. This label is intended to encourage French cities to become more “age friendly” and to encourage active ageing. It aims to support local policies which take into account the specific needs of older people and favour intergenerational relationships. The procedure required for the label includes different steps: setting up a steering group, carrying out a city audit, building up a three-year action plan, result assessment, and exchange of experience and good practice within local and international networks.
The French national gerontological prevention project, “Aging Well”, responds to obvious needs, which demographic data can only emphasise. Its aim is to create preventive dynamics for senior citizens and this specific project is not alone. It is associated with other public health projects which have also been established along three essential themes, nutrition, physical activity and social interaction. These themes were selected and developed along 32 proposed measures. The programme works in cooperation with the Ministries for Health, Youth and Sport, Employment, Social Affairs, Family and Solidarity and the Ministry of Urban Affairs in an attempt to meet the challenges of an ageing population.
