Information Point for Elderly People in Budapest

Budapest's first Information Point for the Elderly opened in the City Hall building on Tuesday, offering help to elderly people with various issues.

Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony said at the opening ceremony that the opening of the information point is a seemingly small but important step towards making Budapest "truly for all of us."

The information point has been set up to help older people, especially in the social care sector, to manage their affairs and use computers, he said.

Gergely Karácsony recalled that the idea of setting up such information points in Budapest was raised at a meeting of the Budapest Council for the Elderly.

Katalin Papp, President of the National Representation of Pensioners and member of the Budapest Council for the Elderly, said that there are more than 360,000 people of pensionable age in Budapest. She added that solving the problems of the elderly and caring for them is a priority area of the capital's social services.

Katalin Papp drew attention to the fact that older people often have difficulties in finding information about the financial or in-kind benefits available in the capital.

The information point, which is open on working days between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., will help with this, she said.

Municipal Assembly adopted on September 1, 2021, the Metropolitan Strategy for the Elderly, which includes the establishment of information points where the elderly can get help with various matters.

At the information point opened in Bárczy István Street, staff of the Municipality of the Capital, volunteers, including retired volunteers, will help seniors to manage their official affairs, book appointments, open and manage an internet portal, and apply for various social and other benefits.