Groupement FIAPA des Associations et Institutions de Personnes Agees

• Groupement FIAPA provides a range of weekly activities on Friday mornings, including choral singing, yoga, wellness massages, intergenerational artistic workshops, Tai Chi, line dancing, cooking workshops, handicraft sessions, and bingo tournaments.
• The scientific committee publishes annual journals to disseminate geriatric knowledge.
• Additionally, the organisation hosts annual conferences featuring local and international experts in celebration of the International Day of Older Persons.

Beneficiaries: The services and activities of Groupement FIAPA benefit residents of 9 retirement homes, members of the Seniors Citizen Council, 120 individual members, and 2 associations and institutions.

Groupement FIAPA, founded by and for the well-being of elderly individuals, is a branch of the Fédération Internationale des Associations de Personnes Âgées (FIAPA), which was established on September 26, 1980, in Paris. In 1982, Denyse Vaulbert de Chantilly, then president of the Senior Citizen Council and a member of the Lions Club of Port-Louis, joined FIAPA and was appointed as a mission officer in 1987.

In 1995, Denyse, along with representatives from the Ministry of Social Security, attended FIAPA's General Assembly in Nice, France. This led to the decision to open a FIAPA branch in the Indian Ocean. To strengthen connections, Denyse and her colleagues organised a gathering of associations from the Indian Ocean from June 2 to 5, 1999, at the Conference Centre in Grand Baie.

Following this meeting, Denyse, who also chaired the Gerontology Commission of the Lions Club of Port-Louis, convened representatives of senior citizen associations to establish FIAPA Océan Indien in Mauritius. A committee was formed to draft the statutes with assistance from FIAPA France and an official from the Registrar of Associations.

Starting in May 2000, a group of social workers, Lions Club members, senior citizen associations, and retirement home managers met at Denyse's home to develop a work plan for the rest of the year. By the end of 2000, several activities were organised:

• June: Meeting with high school students (Form VI) to debate the themes of Intergeneration, Culture of Peace, and Youth Rights and Responsibilities.
• Seminar on "Intergenerational Relationships" in collaboration with a senior citizen association from the southern part of the island.
• Visit from Professor Forette and Dr P. Catteau for a conference/debate on Alzheimer's disease.
• Discussion led by Dr Hurdowar on "How to Maintain Good Health in the Elderly."

In October 2000, Denyse attended FIAPA's 20th anniversary at the European Parliament in Brussels, addressing topics such as the societal role of individuals over 60, the breakdown of the family unit at retirement age, knowledge transfer between generations, and volunteerism. During her stay in France, she met with the president of France Alzheimer and visited the St. Vincent de Paul Hospital Centre. FIAPA Ile Maurice aimed to maintain contact with France Alzheimer to obtain more information, as well as educational cassettes and brochures. Upon returning from Brussels, Denyse reported on the conference and highlighted the issues faced by Alzheimer's patients' families, leading to the organisation of related conferences by the Lions Club and FIAPA.

In early 2001, a meeting was held with members of elderly associations, Lions Clubs of Mauritius, and volunteers to ratify the project statutes and form a Provisional Committee while awaiting ratification by the Registrar of Associations. A second meeting with high school students (Form VI) in the region was organised on the theme "Intergeneration - Culture of Peace."

In May 2001, Professor R. Hugonot and Dr Pierre Catteau visited for conferences and debates with doctors, nurses, and retirement home managers, discussing elderly abuse and visiting retirement homes. The College des Ondes recorded interviews with Professor R. Hugonot and Dr P. Catteau. On September 21, 2001, for Alzheimer's Day, the FIAPA Committee, in association with the Lions Club, organised a talk by Dr P. Catteau on Alzheimer's disease, followed by debates. It was decided to establish the Mauritius Alzheimer Association with the collaboration of the Lions Clubs and FIAPA. A draft of the statutes for the new association was prepared along with a list of patients and their families.

Between 2002 and 2005, the development of the statutes required several meetings of the Executive Committee members with the Registrar of Associations' staff. Meanwhile, activities continued, such as visits to about fifteen retirement homes. A census form provided information on the number of residents, age groups, infrastructure, living conditions, medical care, staff, and available activities. While awaiting the approval of the statutes, a membership recruitment campaign was conducted through circulars.

In November 2002, a conference/debate took place during the visit of Dr P. Catteau and Suzelle Lebihan on Alzheimer's disease. FIAPA was invited by MACOSS (Mauritius Council of Social Services) to a seminar on the "Socio-economic Study of the Elderly."

In May 2005, Groupement FIAPA was officially registered with the Registrar (Certificate Number 8580). According to the statutes, the list of members, guarantees from the President and Treasurer to the bank, and minutes of the Executive Committee meetings and the Annual General Assembly had to be submitted.

The registration of FIAPA was communicated to President Albert Magarian in Paris. In her letter, Denyse Vaulbert de Chantilly wrote: "We currently have two projects of great importance:

• Alleviating the problems of Alzheimer's disease
• Improving conditions in retirement homes, aiming to develop an accreditation system."

Following the registration of Groupement FIAPA, the Mauritius Alzheimer Association was also registered (Certificate Number 8652, dated May 30, 2005). A group of volunteers led by Denyse Vaulbert de Chantilly, with the collaboration of the Lions Club of Port-Louis and the support of FIAPA France, formed a committee.

On World Alzheimer's Day, September 21, 2006, which also marked the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the disease, President Denyse Vaulbert de Chantilly officially launched the Action Plan in the presence of the Minister of Social Security and other dignitaries.

Currently, the Executive Committees of Groupement FIAPA and the Alzheimer Association each consist of seven members, with four members serving on both committees. They work closely with the Jean Vaulbert de Chantilly Centre, Couvent du Bon Secours, Belle Rose and within the two distinct but complementary NGOs.

Following amendments to the statutes and approval by the Registrar of Associations, a General Assembly was convened on March 27, 2010, and a new Executive Committee was formed. An action plan was prepared, and the members began their work.

Groupement FIAPA is committed to:

• Accompanying elderly individuals towards a healthy and happy old age
• Combating dependency
• Developing intergenerational relationships
• Promoting volunteerism
• Networking retirement homes
• Organising animation activities

Given the rapid evolution of modern society and the increasing average lifespan, FIAPA has set the following objectives:

• To engage seniors and gather them in local clubs, regional, or national associations to break their isolation and reintegrate them into social and family life.
• To relay international guidelines and assist associations in preparing for retirement (in countries that benefit from this), promoting volunteerism, and fostering a healthy old age through appropriate individual preparation.
• To combat dependency to ensure seniors can maintain independence and dignity.
• To encourage senior participation in social life through volunteerism, intergenerational relationships, and family actions to enhance their sense of purpose and community involvement.
• To raise awareness and sensitise decision-makers about the essential role of seniors in a "society for all ages."
• To preserve collective memory and maintain the family unit.
• To foster interactions between different generations to promote mutual understanding and support.
• To promote the network of retirement homes to improve care quality and living conditions.
• To plan and organise various activities to keep seniors engaged and active.

For detailed information on our main achievements, please visit our regularly updated website at www.fiapa.mu. Here, you can find our newsletters and journals published within FIAPA, showcasing our ongoing efforts and accomplishments.

• Private Companies: Contributions from corporate sponsors and partners.
• Membership Fees: Entry fees collected from members.
• Donations: Generous donations from individuals and organisations.