Much in the small town of Steinbach near Frankfurt, located in the very south of the Hochtaunuskreis, is not so different than in the rest of Germany. For example, almost a quarter of Steinbachers are over 65 years old. That's about 2400 of the approximately 10,800 inhabitants.

Florentine Fritzen

Correspondent in the Hochtaunuskreis

  • Follow I follow

Unlike in many other German cities, however, there has been an "IG Senioren" in Steinbach for two years. And without them, the Steinbachers would not know exactly about the elderly and old in their city. Wouldn't have a clue that exactly 59 percent of seniors use Whatsapp, more than emails. While Twitter only has 13 older users. It is unknown that a remarkable three-quarters of older people do sports, with walking being the most popular discipline and hiking the second most popular. That three Steinbachers play tennis at the age of more than 85. All this is in a survey, created and evaluated by the IG seniors.

What sounds like a very nice, but also somewhat boring idea of the administration, namely to involve the citizens with interest groups, has a pretty tangible benefit here. The data is also helpful for urban policy. Christine Lenz and Giancarlo Cappelluti of IG Senioren even call their results "highly representative". Because about 1030 of the approximately 2400 Steinbacher from the age group have answered the 30 questions on five sheets of paper, which they found last autumn in the mailbox. However, it is unclear why the more than 1000 others did not participate: Are they too old, too weak, too passive? Do they consider the IG Senioren to be frippery, just like the other five interest groups, namely IG Jugend, IG Familie, IG Nachhaltigkeit, IG Kulturelle Vielfalt, IG Barrieren? Or are they older than 65 years but do not see themselves as seniors?

Even if the study does not show a strictly statistical cross-section, it is striking how many older Steinbachers appreciate the shopping opportunities in the city, namely three quarters. Far fewer are satisfied with local transport – 36 percent would like more connections. More than a fifth cannot cope with barriers, especially at Weißkirchen/Steinbach station.

In view of these complaints, Mayor Steffen Bonk (CDU) calls the survey a good indicator – more buses would have to run and the station would finally have to be rebuilt. Without the cooperation of railways and transport companies, the CDU politician could advocate for more benches on streets and squares. More than a third would like to see them. Perhaps the longing for seats is so great because the actually so sporty Steinbach seniors are apparently also quite sociable – 83 percent have good contact with the neighbors, 28 percent are active in clubs, religious communities and other groups, 18 percent have a voluntary office. And most find the offer for leisure, culture and education in the city good.

So it is no wonder that the Steinbachers are so settled. On average, the participants in the survey, ten of whom were born in their twenties, have been living in the town for 41 years. Three quarters want to stay in their current apartment in the future. Especially since the majority thinks that Steinbach is also well supplied with doctors.