Current Status and Policy Planning for Promoting Age-Friendly Cities in Taitung County: Dialogue Between Older Adults and Service Providers

Li-Chuan Liu, Hsien-Wen Kuo and Chiu-Chu Lin
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Li-Chuan Liu: Department of Public and Cultural Affairs, National Taitung University, Taitung 95092, Taiwan
Hsien-Wen Kuo: Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
Chiu-Chu Lin: Health Promotion Section, Public Health Bureau, Taitung County, Taitung 95043, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: The World Health Organization has promoted age-friendly city (AFC) projects in response to the aging population. Taiwan has also promoted AFC policies. This study was conducted in Taitung County, where 15.37% of the population is older adults in Taiwan. The aim was to understand the perceptions of older adults and service providers with regard to the current status of AFC policies to influence future policies. The participants of this study were older adults and service providers in various regions of Taitung. Quantitative questionnaires were completed by older adults and qualitative interviews were held with focus groups. The older adults were the most satisfied with the AFC domains of “respect and social inclusion” and “community and health services”, and the least satisfied with “transportation” and “civic participation and employment”. Homogeneity existed between the older adults’ satisfaction levels in different regions and the service providers’ opinions; however, there were notable differences between them. Both economic development and the ethnicity of groups in different regions are influential factors that determine the success of government policies. In promoting AFC policies, local governments should consider their applicability based on local conditions and resources to meet the needs of the aging population in rural areas.

Keywords: age-friendly city (AFC); Taitung County; older adults (demanders); service providers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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