The idea behind the campaign of promoting active and healthy ageing came as a result of rapidly changing demographics in Poland - Poles are one of the fastest ageing societies in Europe. It was clear that decision makers had not yet thought on the impact that this process has on the healthcare system, not mentioning a long term plan that could address its inevitable breakdown. That brought originator of the campaign, Prof. Samolinski, national consultant for public health, to initiate a wide coalition ranging from healthcare experts, NGO's and government. The aim was to design a comprehensive strategy to reduce the impact of demographics on healthcare system in Poland with healthy ageing as its cornerstone.

In order to persuade the decision makers and introduce legislative changes, The Foundation decided to engage them in series of debates with experts from various fields: health, healthcare management, economy and sociology. The milestone of the campaign was the 1st Healthy Ageing Congress - an event that brought all key decision makers (Ministries of Health, Employment and Social Policy, Higher Education, Sports) in one place.

The campaign had direct results: it created a new permanent committee on ageing and the government, based on the works of the Foundation, prepared a strategy for seniors for the years 2014-2020.

The idea was to make the Coalition to become a representative of the medical environment in discussion with administration as there were no bodies that would serve the government as an expert on demography or healthy ageing.

• 12 November 2012: bringing Coalition for Healthy Ageing to life - 40 experts from various fields of medicine and administration (Ministry of Employment and Social Policy, Ministry of Health)

• November 2012 – September 2013: gathering data for the “White Paper on Healthy Ageing”

• 18 February 2013: meeting in Parliament with presentation of the “White Paper on Healthy Ageing” – diagnosis of the demographic problems and its impact on the healthcare system

• 3-5 September 2013: panel discussion on healthy ageing and how it affects healthcare system and the economy at the Economic Forum in Krynica - most prestigious economy related event in CEE region

• 30-31 January 2014: Healthy Ageing Congress that gathered decision makers in one place to talk about the solutions for healthy ageing

The results can be divided into two groups - engagement and awareness of the healthy ageing initiative among key stakeholders and actions taken directly by the government officials.

The Foundation was able to reach the following stakeholders with the key messages of the campaign and engage them in its works (through Coalition for Healthy Ageing or Healthy Ageing Congress):

- Ministry of Healthy, Employment and Social Policy, Higher Education and Science, Sports and Tourism

- Chancellery of President of Poland

- Speaker of the Sejm

- Human Rights Defender in Poland

- National Healthcare Fund and Social Insurance Institution

- parliament members

In terms of legislative changes created, a new permanent committee on ageing and the Ministry of Employment and Social Policy have created Council for Senioral Policy. Based on the works of the Foundation, the government announced a strategy for seniors for the years 2014-2020.

The coverage in media of all the activities and healthy ageing reached 100 publications in print, radio and TV over the period of 12 months.