The Senior Advisory Council (SAR) in Bredene is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. This advisory and consultative body first convened on June 11, 2001. The SAR has been bringing together representatives of senior associations and independent seniors for 25 years. The municipal and OCMW (Public Centre for Social Welfare) administration provides logistical and organizational support for its operations. The council can place topics on the agenda and provide advice on local matters relevant to seniors.
For many years, Bredene has consciously focused on the well-being, participation, and quality of life of its seniors. The municipal government recognizes the important place of the elderly in our society and has long been committed to an active and accessible senior policy. Since the mid-1980s, Bredene has had its own municipal social service acting as an accessible point of contact for seniors, among others, forming the basis for extensive senior initiatives.
With the Senior Advisory Council, Bredene aimed to involve seniors more closely in policy-making. Topics discussed in the early years, such as the new traffic plan, service vouchers, and breast cancer screening, remain recognizable today. Although the subjects have broadened over the years to include policy-related themes, mobility, home support, health, and social services are still discussed during SAR meetings.
Society has changed significantly since 2001, largely due to digitalization. The way residents receive information and use municipal services has transformed, and the accessibility of buildings has also received attention. This aligns with a broader evolution: aging is not just about care, but also about independent living, mobility, participation, and access to information and services. Questions about independent living, safe mobility, support, and societal participation remain central, making ongoing consultation necessary.
More information about the SAR can be obtained from the Sociaal Huis, Duinenstraat 106 - 059/33 97 70 - socialedienst@bredene.be.
