The purpose of the festival is integration, exchanging ideas, and creativity, dedicated to active aging, solidarity among generations, with the purpose of improving the quality of life of the elderly. What kind of life has the older generation at this time?
Last year almost one half of the pensioners received pensions below 600 euros - approximately 20% between 400 and 500 euros, and more than a half between 400 and 700 euros. According to Martina Trbanc from the Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia, almost one half of the elderly are below the risk of poverty threshold if living alone, especially in case of older women. In 2015, 78 thousand pensioners lived below the risk of poverty threshold.
The older people with low pensions live frugally, are active in self-supply, and are cautious with their purchases, mostly choosing goods in special offer. But, regardless of financial distress, the worst that can happen to a retired person is to remain alone among the four walls. The active member of the Slovenian Federation of Pensioners' Organisations Nevenka Dobljekar warns: "There is a lot of events with free admittance, which do not cost much, so that everybody can visit exhibitions or other events".
There is no admittance fee for those who would like to participate at the three-day Festival for the Third Period of Life. The Festival will among other events host also 250 discussions, round tables, presentations and cultural events.