EBU and the Elderly Visually Impaired

The following is an interview of Bengt Hoflin, Chairperson of the EBU Commission on activities of elderly blind and visually impaired people.

Why an EBU Commission on activities of elderly blind and visually impaired people ?

The elderly blind are a large group representing approximately 75 to 80 % of the visually impaired population. Of course, the situation may vary from one country to the other, but they are proportionally in larger numbers than blind people from other age-groups. They have problems of their own, and it is therefore essential that we have a special commission to work on these questions.

This is your second term of office as Chairperson of the Commission. In your view, what were the main achievements of the previous term of office ?

We evaluated the situation of the elderly blind in the different countries represented on the Commission. We made study visits to institutions working for elderly blind people. For example, we attended a rehabilitation course (in Sweden) mainly designed for elderly blind and partially sighted people. The course lasted for four weeks and proved to be very useful.

Before my first term of office as Chairperson - I was then still an ordinary member, the Commission held a major conference at the premises of UNESCO in Paris, during which all aspects of the situation of the elderly blind were thoroughly discussed.

The number of elderly people is on the increase, and this tendency will probably continue well into the next century. Therefore, larger resources will be needed to provide them with the services they need. In addition, they are more fit nowadays than they used to be, and they can be very active late in life. What is very important is to stimulate them to continue to be active when they retire, to encourage them to do things.

They should not feel inhibited by the misconceptions of the younger generations who often think that the elderly have no interest in society, and that they should step aside. On the contrary, they are a big group. As such, they must feel responsible for the rest of society. Indeed, the conference in Paris strongly voiced the need for reciprocal solidarity between age groups, between the young and the elderly.

Elderly people have misconceptions of their own : they think that, because they are old, they are less able. This is not true ! I know of a Swedish lady, over 86, who is learning to ride a horse. So it is very important to tell the elderly : you can do this, or at least try !

What are the main challenges for the years to come ?

One big issue is the deterioration of the economic situation in almost all countries, leading to cuts in social provisions and services for elderly people. But we know the money is there. The problem is that it is not divided in a fair way.

We must encourage the elderly to take their part in the social dialogue. One out of 3 voters is an elderly person. They therefore have significant political power and they must use it. Yet we should respect the rule by which no one should take too much for his own group. Resources must be shared in a fair way.

Besides, the Commission will work towards achieving equal rights to the provision of rehabilitation services and technical aids for the elderly. I have to admit that the elderly are the first to think that computers are not made for them. They are totally wrong of course. What is needed is to give them the opportunity to try working with new technologies. In fact, there are quite a few technical courses for the elderly in Sweden and elsewhere. We have ladies over 90 years of age who learn and manage to use electronic newspapers. Age is not a limitation in itself. What is limitation is the lack of will or courage to try.

What are the tools in the hands of your Commission to meet these challenges ?

The main tool is the elderly people themselves. They have to stand and say : I am able and willing to try. I know that I can learn even if, due to my age, it takes longer.

In Sweden, technical aids are granted on two criteria : applicants must have the need for the technical aid they request ; they must be capable of handling it properly. Criteria such as age, gender and even lack of money do not count. In fact, the elderly blind may sometimes be in greater need of a technical aid than their younger peers.

1999 is going to be the UN International Year of the Elderly. What action is intended by the Commission to celebrate this major event ?

One item of the Commission's Plan of action is devoted to the International Year. We shall take this opportunity to tell decision-makers and the general public that the elderly want to be full members of society and take their share of responsibility. However, the influence of organisations of the blind and of professionals is somewhat limited. It will therefore be up to the elderly blind themselves to express their needs and their abilities.

As underlined by Bengt Hoflin in his interview, the International Year of Older Persons is high on the Commission's agenda. The Commission, meeting in Almasa in October 1997, resolved to :

• Present the lives of active elderly blind through films or videos, and investigate the possibility to involve the European Broadcast Union in an all European action ;
• Involve other EBU commissions, requesting them to focus on one issue concerning the elderly blind ;
• Promote East-West cooperation on the issue of the elderly persons with disabilities through, for example, projects for the elderly blind financially supported by EU programmes such as Phare and Tacis.