What Prompts Policy Change? Comparative Analyses of Efforts to Create Age-Friendly Cities in 14 Cities in Indonesia

A Review of Public Sector Engagement in Age-Friendly Community Initiatives

The global age-friendly cities and communities (AFCC) movement has centered on the involvement of the public sector, calling on high-ranking authorities to commit to improving the built, social, and service environments of their localities. This interpretive review aimed to advance understanding of the ways in which the public sector is involved in AFCC efforts. Based on emergent themes from peer-reviewed articles from the United States and Canada published since 2010, we derived a two-dimensional framework for conceptualizing variability in public sector involvement, encompassing the internal/external (a) locus of responsibility for cross-sector change and (b) target for cross-sector change. We discuss implications for research, policy, practice, and further knowledge development in AFCC implementation.

Universities as Intermediary Organizations: Catalyzing the Construction of an Age-Friendly City in Hong Kong

Background and Objectives

The construction of an Age-Friendly City (AFC) requires active contribution from relevant interest groups including older adults, nonprofit organizations, and policy-makers. However, given that relevant interest groups may have limited resources, knowledge, and skills, as well as unique contextual factors, they often require help from intermediary organizations-actors that aim to build interest groups' capabilities. Our objectives were to examine the functions of universities, as an example of intermediary organizations, in facilitating the construction of an AFC, and identify critical factors that enable intermediary organizations to perform their functions.

Research Design and Methods

We conducted three focus groups and one individual interview with multiple interest groups including older adults and social workers from nonprofit organizations and local government involved in a 6-year citywide AFC project in Hong Kong. Participants were asked to share their views on the role of universities in relation to their own experiences and roles in the project. Data generated from the interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

Four themes pertinent to the functions of universities in facilitating development were identified: facilitating cross-sector collaborations, knowledge diffusion, interest-group building, and mediating divergent interests. We also found that neutrality and reputability are key characteristics for intermediary organizations to wield sufficient legitimacy to perform their functions efficiently.

Discussion and Implications

Findings underscore the important yet overlooked role of intermediary organizations in bridging and mediating different interest groups to facilitate AFC development. We advance gerontological scholarship by providing insights into the theoretical mechanisms and practice implications for intermediary organizations in fostering an AFC.

Do Age-Friendly Community Policy Efforts Matter in China? An Analysis Based on Five-Year Developmental Plan for Population Aging

(1) Background: The study will examine whether local governments' policy efforts on age-friendly communities (AFC) promote older adults' social participation in China. The extensive scope of AFC makes measuring policy efforts very challenging. The study attempts to introduce the developmental planning and goal-setting theory in public policy literature to answer this question. (2) Methods: We look at the Eleventh Five-Year Developmental Plan for Population Aging in subnational governments and CHARLS (the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study) baseline dataset from 2011, with data on policy strength and social participation of older adults. By using multilevel linear models, we regress social participation at the individual level on the policy strength of age-friendly communities at the provincial level. (3) Results: The results show that policy strength on AFC does vary substantially among provinces within China. And the interaction between policy strength of physical environment of local governments and community infrastructures is positively associated with social participation of rural older adults in China. (4) Conclusions: We conclude that policy efforts of local governments on the physical environment of age-friendly communities have effectively promoted the social participation of rural older adults in China. Policy makers could integrate physical infrastructures into their rural revitalization strategy to improve the wellbeing of Chinese older adults.

Influence of promoting an "age-friendly cities" strategy on psychological capital and social engagement based on the scenario method

Holding large conferences and events usually encourages the corresponding government to upgrade the host city. For this process, incorporating additional costs to increase accessibility for the elderly is a feasible means for a city to develop in an age-friendly manner. Providing evidence-based reports to policy makers is conducive to implementing the policies of age-friendly cities. This study used the scenario method to simulate the effect of promoting the "age-friendly cities" strategy on residents' psychological capital and social engagement (SE). We found that promoting the construction of age-friendly cities can significantly improve residents' psychological capital and SE and that residents from all age groups can benefit. This paper provides an economical means to influence policymakers through evidence-based reports in promoting the development of age-friendly cities.

City Government's Adoption of Housing Adaptation Policy Innovation for Older Adults: Evidence From China

OBJECTIVES

Utilizing policy innovation and diffusion theory, this study aims to explain why city governments adopt housing adaptation policies that primarily benefit older people based on the case of China.

METHODS

The data are drawn from an event history data set of a housing adaptation policy for older people collected from 283 Chinese cities from 2010 to 2018. Piecewise constant exponential models are utilized.

RESULTS

The results indicate that cities facing greater internal pressure and a higher political status are more likely to adopt a housing adaptation policy for older people. Policy adoption by neighboring cities could further facilitate this process.

DISCUSSION

Policy innovation and diffusion theory provide a useful framework for this study. That is, the Chinese city government's adoption of housing adaptation policy for older adults is initially driven by local needs and then accelerated by interactions among neighboring governments.

Exploring the sustainability of age-friendly initiatives in a Canadian province

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Based on the WHO Age-friendly Cities and Communities (AFCC) framework, the government of Manitoba, Canada, launched a province-wide age-friendly initiative in 2008. The objective of this study was to explore the sustainability of the AFCC initiative more than a decade later. The study was guided by conceptualizations of sustainability as multi-dimensional and dynamic, composed of four aspects (continued capacity; institutionalization; continued benefits; and development/adaptation), and an ecologic perspective that highlights the importance of contextual influences, and their change over time, on AFCC activities.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The study involved a qualitative, multiple case study design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2020 with a key informant from each of 52 AFCC. Interview data were analyzed deductively, guided by the sustainability framework and an ecologic perspective. Census data was used to describe the demographic characteristics of AFCC.

RESULTS

We identified six groups of AFCC initiatives that varied in degree from the most to the least sustainable: active; in hiatus; re-organized; stalled; discontinued; and never got off the ground. Both local, community factors (e.g., lack of capacity), and broader contextual factors, such as demographic changes and provincial legislations influenced initiatives' sustainability.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

AFCC initiatives can range in their degree of sustainability, and can wax or wane over time. On-going external support for AFCC (e.g., from provincial or state government) to promote the vision of age-friendliness, and to addresses lack of capacity (e.g., to assist with community assessments) could help with the long-term sustainability of initiatives.

Beginning on an age-friendly journey: Barriers to implementing age-friendly initiatives

Objective

To explore the barriers to communities in New Zealand developing age‐friendly initiatives.

Methods

A qualitative participatory approach underpinned this study. Semi‐structured digitally recorded individual interviews were undertaken with 24 government officials, local government steering group members and community representatives from an urban city, provincial city and a rural district. A general inductive data analytic process was undertaken. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines were followed to ensure rigour in this study.

Results

(a) Being at the beginning, (b) Minimal diversity and (c) Problems getting started were three key issues identified.

Conclusions

New Zealand is in the early stages of becoming age‐friendly. Findings from this study provide a place‐based New Zealand perspective and have influenced central government social policy and practice development, culminating in resources supporting local government and communities to successfully implement age‐friendly initiatives.