Hincks in Slovenia

16 June, 2023

Our 3rd Senior Eco-Nect project meeting took place on June the 14th to 16th in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Partners had a jam packed schedule for the three days.

On day 1, we discussed the peer learning activities, our stakeholder mapping progress and outreach strategies as well as the progress of the SWOT analysis and strategy building, finalising our next steps.

Day 2, commenced our study visit, where we visited Sežana Hospital, a special hospital for the treatment and rehabilitation of seniors. Next stop was to an accelerator, called Inkubator Sežana where we heard from Markus Zevnik of Sopotniki, which is a free regional transport service that enables seniors to attend cultural events, visit friends, go to the doctor, go shopping, etc., which helps seniors maintain a social life and prevents the state of isolation and loneliness that seniors in rural locations are susceptible to. The final stop on our study visit was to Hotel Delfin in Izola. This is a 3-star hotel with 219 rooms marketed specifically for seniors, and is managed by Slovene Federation of Pensioners' Associations (SFPA), where profits made go back into the pension fund. The hotel has special access and has many facilities on site that would accommodate seniors as well as having a hospital located nearby.

Day 3, commenced with a visit to BTC City in Ljubljana. BTC City is a shopping mall, sports, entertainment and business area in Ljubljana, Slovenia, with more than 500 shops. It is one of the largest shopping and entertainment complexes in Europe and has an area of 250,000 m2. With everything in a concentrated space, thoughtful access for seniors, fresh organic food markets and discounts for seniors, BTC City provides a safe and accessible space for seniors to shop and meet.

The study visit was an opportunity to learn more about senior work practices in Slovenia and how local policy helps support it. We got a greater understanding of the role of municipalities in creating and enabling an environment for senior living and how elements enable municipalities to thrive in the context of senior policy. The study visit inspired us all with new ideas and suggestions for work as well as acting as an exchange of good practices among the partnership.