IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing
NGO’s and their roles and
responsibilities in an ageing world
Promoting action for older people’s
well being in a highly developed
country based on the social
welfare model
Bjarne Hastrup, CEO
DaneAge - briefly
• DaneAge is a not-for-profit, direct-membership
organization
• 610,000 members; 30 % of all Danes 50+ are members
• Independent, non-partisan
• 217 local chapters across Denmark
• 12,000 volunteers doing social work, providing local
membership activities, local advocacy, etc.
• Membership fees account for ¾ of the income
• The mission of DaneAge is to fight for a society in
which all can live long and good lives:
– the person is more important than the person’s age
– it is possible to live and to grow on your own terms
– support and care are available for those who need it
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3 December
2013
IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing - Bjarne Hastrup, CEO
What we offer our members
and society
• Communication of knowledge and
attitudes toward politicians and society
• Help, support, care, presence
• Tools and skills
• Activities, forums, networks and
experiences
• Membership benefits
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3 December
2013
IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing - Bjarne Hastrup, CEO
More than 60,000 local activities
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Exercise
Education
Travel / excursions
Culture
Cooking courses and bridge
Language courses
Dance classes
- and much more
3 December
2013
IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing - Bjarne Hastrup, CEO
Political results
• Commission on Elderly Affairs: Quality of Life in a nursing home
• Commission on Home Care
• Court proceedings – local authorities illegally reduce the amount
of home care
• Senior benefit allowance
• Free influenza vaccine
• The right to choose a nursing home and to bring your spouse
• Reintroduction of the survivor's pension
• Holiday pay without early retirement reductions
• Rights instead of charity
• Prevention of cuts in housing benefit
• Restricted welfare reform
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3 December
2013
IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing - Bjarne Hastrup, CEO
Is DaneAge independent from government?
Does DaneAge act on behalf of older people?
• We can not levy taxes – we are
obligated to our members and must
therefore live up to their trust
• We should hit the mark, be aware of
members' wishes, dreams, expectations
and concerns
• We must think from the “outside in”
• We must stay abreast of future
developments
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3 December
2013
IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing - Bjarne Hastrup, CEO
Is DaneAge independent from government?
Does DaneAge act on behalf of older people?
• A certain number of members is needed
in order to be heard by politicians
• Members = resources for our work
• A lot of members provide access to
more knowledge and more inspiration
• Finally – members represent our market
value – it reflects public satisfaction
with our performance and results
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3 December
2013
IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing - Bjarne Hastrup, CEO
Is DaneAge independent from government?
Does DaneAge act on behalf of older people?
• Membership renewals are “scarily high”
– 96%
• Three out of four members are satisfied
or very satisfied
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3 December
2013
IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing - Bjarne Hastrup, CEO
Is the current economic crisis a
threat or an opportunity to NGO’s
• The pessimists are leading the way and are
talking down the economy
• ”Everybody” talks about, how we cannot afford
welfare
• We forget the principles and the ideas behind
the universal welfare model
• Older people are sometimes portrayed ​as “rich
and spoiled” in the public debate
• DaneAge is focused on the frail elderly's
situation
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3 December
2013
IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing - Bjarne Hastrup, CEO
Actual and potential political threats
• Local authorities will continue to downsize
quoting the economic crisis and budget
accountability
• User fees are imposed on practical home help
• A tax reform which completely ignores
pensioners
• Indexation of state pensions
• Additional income modulation of state pensions
• Enforced online communication with the public
sector
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3 December
2013
IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing - Bjarne Hastrup, CEO
That’s why we are on high alert
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3 December
2013
IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing - Bjarne Hastrup, CEO
• We must sleep with a gun under the
pillow - cocked and ready to fire
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3 December
2013
IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing - Bjarne Hastrup, CEO