Since the end of 2017, www.altersatlas.ch has provided an interactive information platform on the topics of age and aging. The aim of the development of this website was to visually present selected information on changes in the age structure in its socio-spatial and situation-specific dimensions, e.g. age group distribution or demographic development. The integrated data and information come from official statistics and from various age-related projects of the FHNW. For the underlying concept, the project team opted for visual'index cards', each with title, visualization, short explanation and background information. The individual maps are thematically linked, so that you can navigate along the links through the network of information according to your interests and hopefully make one or two exciting discoveries. The age atlas team wishes you a happy exploration! www.alters-atlas.ch

The Aging Atlas 1.0 was developed by an interdisciplinary project team from the Institute of Geomatics and the Institute of Information Systems at the FHNW as part of the National Innovation Network "Age(s) in Society" as part of the FHNW's Strategic Initiative Ageing Society.

Based on the data from the Ageing Survey, cantonal and federal statistics, and results from research and development projects, the School of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geomatics at the FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland will create a digital ageing atlas. This atlas will provide a map of the ageing society, which will depict the demographic change in its socio-spatial and living-situation-specific dimensions in an interactive way that can be easily understood.

The results produced within the context of the Ageing Atlas are to be transferred into practice, implemented and assessed through the procedure for social innovation developed at the School of Social Work at the FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. The results will also be incorporated into teaching (e.g. in the form of research workshops in the Social Work master’s programme, modules for the area of specialisation of Ageing within the Social Work bachelor’s programme, etc.), which means that these results will be made accessible to future social-work professionals as well as to partners in the field.

The survey "Swiss Survey 65+" - Nationwide survey on shaping the post-professional phase of life" is a survey conducted by the School of Social Work,University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW). A total of around 2000 people aged 65 and over were interviewed in a telephone or postal survey. The survey was conducted by the social research institute gfs Bern on behalf of the School of Social Work (FHNW).

The survey investigated the conditions under which people over 65 can live as long, independent and good a life as possible. In doing so, material, social and individual resources of people over 65 were examined in more detail to determine whether and how these can enable or prevent an independent lifestyle. This made it possible to provide sound data for age and social reporting geared to quality of life and life satisfaction, which can serve as an indispensable basis for responsible planning and decision-making by authorities and institutions.

The results of the SwissSurvey65+ show pronounced variations in the availability of material, social and individual resources between groups that differ from each other with respect to various sociodemographic characteristics, thus revealing the contours of a social inequality in society that persists in the later stages of life. However, we also see from the Swiss results that the independent living of the respondents can be described as relatively good on average.

We thank the respondents for their valuable willingness to provide information. We would also like to thank the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), the project-linked contributions of Swissuniversities (PgB13), the National Innovation Network "Age(n) in Society" (AGE-NT), and the School of Social Work of the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) for their financial support of the "Swiss Survey 65+" project. Our thanks go equally to the partly former employees and all the advisors who accompanied this project with constructive criticism.