Nederlandse Islamtische Bond voor Ouderen (NISBO) Mathenesserlaan 287 3021 HJ Rotterdam
Tel	:	010 – 486 62 90
Fax	:	010 - 486 34 93
Email	:	info@nisbo.nl
Web	:	www.nisbo.nl

The Netherlands Association for the Elderly Migrants (NISBO) is a national organisation that strives to improve the situation of elderly immigrants in Dutch society. The activities of the NISBO include both individual advocacy by advisers for the elderly, and efforts to influence government policy.
 
The number of elderly immigrants is increasing rapidly. Currently, about 60,000 Turkish and Moroccan elderly live in the Netherlands, and this number will have doubled by the year 2015. The circumstances under which they have to live are very unfavourable. They are among the groups with the lowest incomes, their houses are often not suited for the elderly, and many have serious health complaints. 

In the opinion of the NISBO, it is a common responsibility to see to it that everybody can spend their old age in the Netherlands under decent circumstances. For many among the elderly, and especially for elderly immigrants, this is insufficiently the case. Concrete solutions are needed for problems on terrains such as income, housing and health care. Further, something must be done about the dependent situation the elderly find themselves in. They must have the opportunity to make their own choices regarding how they spend their old age.

Although many will endorse these views, too often there is a discrepancy between good intentions and actual results. For ten years now, the problems of elderly immigrants are being addressed, but so far this has not resulted in an improvement of their situation. Good intentions are not enough; policies must be effective. It is therefore the opinion of the NISBO that plans regarding elderly immigrants must include concrete objectives and measurement of results. 

The NISBO is a young organisation. Its precursor, the Turkish Elderly Union {tisbo), was founded in 1993. The reason was that the Turkish community in the Netherlands was concerned about the problems of the growing number of elderly people among them. It was decided to create an organisation that would promote the interests of the Turkish elderly. 

TISBO's activities included advocacy, as well as organising education meetings for the elderly. Further, an organisational structure was created, including regional and local branches. In 1994, the TISBO introduced Turkish 'advisers for the elderly,' that provide advocacy on an individual basis.

Soon it became clear that the need for an organisation such as the TISBO was not limited to the Turkish community, but was also felt for example among the Moroccan community. At the same time, the Dutch government expressed a preference for a broad organisation that would unite elderly immigrants from different countries of origin. As a result of these developments, the NISBO was created to replace the TISBO. 

In 1996, the government published a discussion paper on the future of organisations for the elderly in the Netherlands. The paper dealt with the 'Dutch' elderly unions (anbo, pcob and Unie kbo), but also devoted considerable attention to the NISBO. The paper recognizes that the position of the NISBO is different from that of the other elderly unions, in that the latter have tens of years of experience. At the same time, the paper states that it is desirable that the NISBO develops into an organisation that can fully participate in the common efforts of the unions. This was to be achieved within a period of four years. The adoption of the government discussion paper by Parliament brought about the formal recognition of the NISBO. Meanwhile, the collaboration between the NISBO and its fellow elderly unions further developed. As a result, the NISBO joined the Coordinating Body of Collaborating Elderly Organisations (CSO) on december 1997. The NISBO attaches much importance to the membership of the cso. The fellow elderly unions have a lot of experience that is of value for the NISBO. At the same time, the NISBO does not want to be a 'passive consumer,' but wants to make an active contribution to the efforts of the cso. This contribution can address the specific situation of elderly immigrants, but it can also deal with issues of a more general nature, such as the Major Cities Policy. 



MvB Bastiaansestr. 40
1054 SP Amsterdam
tel. 020 – 618 28 74
fax 010 – 618 45 05
e-mail: amsterdam@nisbo.nl
 
Torenstr.172
2513 BW Den Haag
tel. 070 – 392 42 20
fax 070 – 392 45 52
E-mail: denhaag@nisbo.nl
 
Damstr. 41
3531 BS Utrecht
tel. 030 – 693 97 25
fax 030 – 293 97 38
E-mail: utrecht@nisbo.nl