This article sets out the group discussions that took place over four months in Barcelona in preparation for the second congress of the Gent Gran (II conference of the elderly) in Barcelona in November 1993. The discussions took place at the headquarters of each district, following presentation of the presentation by a technician. The members of the groups are senior and committed people who are members of the Social Welfare Council of the City of Barcelona. The methodology used is qualitative for the analysis of the speech, which has been structured on the following points: under the heading ‘Old people as citizens of rights and obligations’, the topics of assessing old age, family, retirement, the implications of the elderly as citizens of rights and duties and the social functions of the elderly – on these issues – are listed, and the elderly expressed their views, which were summarised in the final wording of the rapporteur. The material that provides a first-hand version of what elderly people think about the topic of ‘valuing old age’ has been discussed here.