As of: February 13, 2024, 7:00 p.m
By: Markus Schwarzkugler
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The leadership trio of the Wartenberg Senior Citizens' Advisory Board (from left): Secretary Ulla Klein, Chairman Werner Kelnhofer and Vice-Chairwoman Gabi Gerstner.
© Klaus Kuhn
As soon as it was founded, “1000 ideas have emerged” in the Wartenberg Senior Citizens Advisory Council after a month of existence, as secretary Ulla Klein put it when introducing the leadership trio at the market council meeting.
Of course, there aren't that many, as Werner Kelnhofer says in an interview with our newspaper.
Nevertheless, an impressive, colorful range of offers has already come together for a short time, from which seniors from the community and the surrounding area could soon benefit.
An event is already fixed.
Wartenberg – “I haven’t felt that old until now,” says the 72-year-old chairman, who now heads the advisory board that was founded in mid-January.
He used to head the IT department at the Wartenberg Clinic, and today the Wartenberger still plays table tennis at TSV.
And now he has switched his focus to his older fellow citizens.
These are “not necessarily Internet readers,” which is why the expert is taking up the issue of digital media, among other things.
“A new smartphone is a challenge for many older people,” says Kelnhofer.
“Why do I have to swipe once, press once?
We want to convey this from older people to older people” – but also from younger citizens, to whom the advisory board wants to build a bridge with offers like these.
The advisory board also wants to “establish contact between the very young and the seniors” when it comes to the topic of “surrogate grandma and surrogate grandpa”.
The idea behind it: Older people who may not have grandchildren could serve as child and babysitters.
Kelnhofer generally sees the advisory board as having a pilot function, such as providing advice on nutritional advice, for example at the Office for Food, Agriculture and Forestry, with which contact can be established at a low threshold.
“As you get older, your appetite decreases, but it’s still important to eat healthily,” says Kelnhofer.
He can also imagine a flyer for the folk festival aimed at seniors.
The omnipresent topic of poverty in old age is self-explanatory.
Addressing your own distress or asking for help is “difficult.”
Kelnhofer can imagine that in such cases those affected find it easier to open up to their peers than to younger people.
A kind of tea dance with mixed music would also be an option for Kelnhofer.
A reading afternoon for seniors called the reading and storytelling café has already been installed.
The first edition will take place on Thursday, March 7th, from 3 p.m. in the Wartenberger Media Center.
Entertaining stories or anecdotes will be read out with homemade cakes and coffee (free of charge, while stocks last).
The offer is aimed at older people from Wartenberg and the surrounding area.
A transport service will be set up for immobile guests, please register on Tel. (0 87 62) 15 29.
In September 2022, the market council decided that preparations were being made for the establishment of the advisory board.
“A big topic is living in old age,” says senior citizen advisor Nina Hieronymus.
Just one example: Some seniors live in large, high-maintenance houses but would like to downsize and move into apartments.
But there is often a lack of appropriate living space, says Hieronymus, who emphasizes: “We have to find out about the needs, wishes and problems of older people.” The speaker also addresses the topic of mobility in old age – and participation in social life in general.
Secretary Klein would think it would be good to link up with neighboring communities when working with seniors.
And vice-chairwoman Gabi Gerstner said to the committee: “I hope that the cooperation with the local council will also work, otherwise we will achieve nothing for our seniors.”