“Levenskunst op leeftijd. Europese visies op oud worden, zelfredzaamheid en zorg.”  Conferentie 20 november 2015, PThU Groningen.

Europa’s bevolking wordt snel ouder. De sociale impact van deze demografische transitie op de sociale structuren in de lidstaten is enorm. Tegelijk wordt de verzorgingsstaat afgebouwd en wordt – zoals in Nederland – de overgang naar een participatiesamenleving bepleit. Moeten mensen meer verantwoordelijk worden gehouden voor hun eigen oude dag, ook als ze dan afhankelijk worden van de zorg van anderen? De relatie tussen publieke zorgtaken en individuele redzaamheid moet opnieuw worden herijkt. Uit welke culturele, morele en spirituele bronnen putten de verschillende Europese landen, om ons in staat te stellen een beter evenwicht te vinden tussen zelfmanagement, kwetsbaarheid en afhankelijkheid in de ouderdom? Is ‘succesvol oud worden’ iets dat je kunt leren en waarin je geschoold kunt worden? Hoe ziet een hoogbejaarde levenskunst eruit?

“The Art of Later Life. European Perspectives on Ageing, Self-Reliance, and Care” , Conference Protestant Theological University, Groningen, November 20, 2015.

Conference theme:

Europe‘s population is rapidly ageing. The impact of this demographic transition on the basic societal structure in various countries is enormous – economically, but also culturally and ethically. Should people be held responsible for managing their own old age, even and also when they become dependent on the care of others? The relationship between public care and individual autonomy requires radical reconsideration. From which cultural, moral and/or spiritual resources Europe can draw, enabling us to find a better balance between self-management and dependency in old age? Is ‘successful aging’ something to be learned and educated? How does an “Art of Later Life” look like?

Key note speakers:

Prof. Marie-Jo Thiel, director of the Centre européen d’enseignement et de recherche en éthique (CEERE – the European Centre for Teaching and Research in Ethics) in Strasbourg. France.

Prof. Harriet Mowat, Managing Director Mowat Research/ University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland UK

Dr Heinz Rüegger, theologian, ethicist and gerontologist Institut Neumünster, Zollikerberg, Switzerland. Associate member of the Center for Gerontology University of Zürich, co-moderator of the working group for religious gerontology (Arbeitskreis für Religionsgerontologie), Theological department of the University of Zürich/Institut Neumünster.

Prof. Frits de Lange, professor of Ethics, Protestant Theological University, location Groningen

Prof. Martin Walton, professor by special appointment in Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Studies, Protestant Theological University, location Groningen.

For whom? Professionals involved in elderly care (pastoral / spiritual care, ethics, management and policy)

At this conference also the book of Frits de Lange, Loving Later Life. An Ethics of Aging (Eerdmans; Grand Rapids 2015) will be launched.

You can sign up for this conference here.

Contact:  Prof. Frits de Lange (fdelange@pthu.nl), Prof. Martin Walton (mwalton@pthu.nl) (organizing committee)