Developing Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: Eleven Case Studies from around the World

Samuèle Rémillard-Boilard, Tine Buffel and Chris Phillipson
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Samuèle Rémillard-Boilard: Research Centre on Aging, CIUSSS de l’Estrie—CHUS, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
Tine Buffel: School of Social Sciences, Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing (MICRA), The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PR, UK
Chris Phillipson: School of Social Sciences, Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing (MICRA), The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PR, UK

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Developing age-friendly cities and communities has become a key part of policies aimed at improving the quality of life of older people in urban areas. The World Health Organization has been especially important in driving the ‘age-friendly’ agenda, notably through its Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, connecting 1114 (2020 figure) cities and communities worldwide. Despite the expansion and achievements of the Network over the last decade, little is known about the progress made by cities developing this work around the world. This article addresses this research gap by comparing the experience of eleven cities located in eleven countries. Using a multiple case study approach, the study explores the key goals, achievements, and challenges faced by local age-friendly programs and identifies four priorities the age-friendly movement should consider to further its development: (1) changing the perception of older age; (2) involving key actors in age-friendly efforts; (3) responding to the (diverse) needs of older people; and (4) improving the planning and delivery of age-friendly programs. The article concludes by discussing the research and policy implications of these findings for the age-friendly movement.

Keywords: age-friendly cities; ageing; policy; case studies; Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities; World Health Organization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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