Equal Opportunities Commission provides impetus for Brussels policy on the elderly

Age discrimination on the labor market, loneliness, a lack of options for affordable housing: elderly people in Brussels face many problems. The corona crisis prompted Brussels MR MPs Françoise Schepmans, David Weytsman and David Leisterh to denounce the missing Brussels seniors policy.

“Under the guise of good intentions, things have happened during the corona crisis that we can describe as ‘age discrimination’,” the resolution says. The three recall the visitors to the nursing homes who had difficulty or even no access to the nursing homes and the way in which the elderly were treated in a ‘patronizing’ way.

Although the resolution was submitted two years ago, it was only discussed and approved this Tuesday by the members of the Equal Opportunities Committee of the Brussels parliament.

Labor market participation

The resolution is not only about healthcare, seniors are also not always able to participate in the labor market. Belgium is not a good student, with a participation rate of 54.5 percent for 54 – 64 year olds, compared to 60.5 percent for the European average, Eurostat data showed in 2021.

According to the initiators, older people are also underrepresented in bodies where they can represent their views, such as the media. While demographers predict that in 2040 the population will consist of one person over 67 for every 2.6 people.

“Very little policy has been made for this group, compared to other groups,” says Schepmans. According to her, that is necessary. “Many seniors are in isolation.”

Grandparent homes and self-reliance

The initiators of the resolution – which will be voted on by the Brussels parliament on May 2 – look to Canada as an example. “Canada understands that age discrimination is not an elderly problem, but a social problem and therefore a collective responsibility,” it said.

For example, the city of Toronto has launched a campaign to combat age discrimination in the labor market, and the province of Quebec has set up an action plan for the elderly, including ‘grandparent homes’. These are community centers where groups of older volunteers work for young people and families and thus transfer their knowledge.

The initiators want a global senior policy for Brussels, with an eye for discrimination in the labor market, intergenerational initiatives such as grandparent’s homes, but also improved representation of seniors in senior citizen councils at both municipal and regional level. They also ask for more statistical data to be collected to better map age discrimination. Finally, they argue for a policy that prioritises the autonomy of seniors, both in nursing homes and in the medical sector.