Jena, October 06, 2026. Following a successful six-month pilot phase, the project ‘Gemeinschaft auf Rezept’ (Community by Prescription) will be offered city-wide in Jena starting in October 2026. In the future, doctors will be able to easily prescribe social participation to elderly people in need of support.
- What: ‘Gemeinschaft auf Rezept’ project for elderly citizens
- Goal: Prevention of loneliness and health promotion through referral to the agathe specialist counseling service
- Start: City-wide implementation starting October 2026 in Jena
- Requirement for practices: Prescription pads and information material can be requested from the city by mail
Simple handling for medical practices and patients
The medical prescription offers a familiar and binding way to refer elderly people to the agathe specialist counseling service. The consultants provide individual support to patients in finding meeting opportunities and support services in Jena. They also assist with applications for social or long-term care benefits.
“Social isolation is a health risk factor – especially in old age. With this project, we want to prevent loneliness and thus promote both health prevention and quality of life equally,” explains Kathleen Lützkendorf, Head of the Department for Social Affairs, Health, Immigration, and Climate for the City of Jena.
From April to September 2026, selected medical practices tested the concept with consistently positive feedback. Interested practices can now request the necessary materials directly from the city administration.
Requesting materials for medical practices
Doctors as well as other interested organizations and municipalities wishing to implement the concept can contact the City of Jena:
- Ordering: Prescription pads and information materials can now be requested by mail.
- Information for municipalities: Upon request, the City of Jena provides details on implementation as well as the digital prescription template.
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Memory training and activity games for seniors
Diverse suggestions and games for mental fitness and activity in old age.
Background: The agathe specialist counseling service in Thuringia
The “agathe” project is an initiative to strengthen social participation and prevent loneliness in old age. Through targeted outreach counseling and close local networking, elderly people in Thuringian municipalities are to be encouraged and supported to participate in social life and to make use of support services at an early stage.
Source:
Miteinander statt Einsamkeit
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.