In today's society, focused on the cult of youth and fitness, elderly people tend to get overlooked. Their creative energy, good will and lots of spare time are often wasted. Shouldn't our increasingly aging societies try to figure out how to release the forgotten potential that people over 70 years of age undeniably have and, what's more, are willing to share?

Click on the audio icon to listen to the report by Joanna Najfeld.

A social program kicks of in Katowice, southern Poland, which may prompt some ideas for other communities. One of the ideas is to create a program pairing elderly people with children from state orphanages in order to create grandparent-grandchild type friendship. The 70+ program also provides medical and social help to the elderly. Free preventive check-ups, vaccinations, as well as basic housing assistance are the priority. Posters and pamphlets advertising the 70+ program are distributed on the streets of Katowice. Ten different centers all over town are open to the interested parties.