Involving socially excluded groups in age-friendly programs: The role of a spatial lens and co-production approaches.

Despite the identification of social inclusion as a key objective of age-friendly policies and programs, there is limited research evidence as to either the extent to which this has been achieved or how it might be realized. Gaps remain in our understanding of how age-friendly programs might involve different groups of older people and the possible barriers that might be encountered. This paper seeks to address this gap by drawing on evidence from the Ambition for Aging program in Greater Manchester, UK, which implemented a range of projects designed to tackle social isolation in later life. The paper argues that due to its co-production approach and spatial lens, Ambition for Aging was able to involve sections of the older population that otherwise might have remained excluded. In providing further insights relevant to age-friendly programs, the paper also considers some of the barriers experienced by the Ambition for Aging program and builds a case that taking a spatial justice perspective to age-friendly work may help identify and overcome obstacles to achieving social inclusion

Age-friendly cities and communities: Policy opportunities and challenges

Since the mid-2000s, the need to create age-friendly cities and communities,meaning places where older people are actively involved,valued, and supported, has emerged as a major concern for urbanpolicy. The World Health Organization (WHO) has driven thisage-friendly agenda through its Global Network for Age-friendlyCities and Communities (GNAFCC). This paper reviews some ofthe challenges associated with the development of this policy, giventhe variety of economic and social pressures facing urban communities.The discussion provides background to the development ofthe age-friendly model and a summary of some of the factors necessaryfor its successful implementation. The paper then reviews arange of key areas where age-friendly policies might be developed,with a particular focus on issues relating to the various inequalitiesaffecting older populations. The paper also emphasises the importanceof future age-friendly work being grounded in collaborationwith the range of movements seeking to improve the quality of lifeof people living in cities. The paper concludes with a call for a moreinclusive age-friendly movement, one that acknowledges the fulldiversity of aging experiences

Co-research with older people: a systematic literature review

Interest in co-research with older adults has grown in the past 20 years, yet few published studies have addressed why and how older people have been involved as partners in research. This article presents a systematic review of the literature, examining the aims and challenges of co-research and the ways in which older adults can be involved in research. Systematic searches covering several databases were conducted, yielding a total of 3,293 articles, with 27 papers reviewed which involved older people as co-researchers across more than one stage of the research cycle. We find that co-research with older people offers improved understandings of the issues facing older people; more inclusive and responsive policy, practice and service design; and opportunities for co-researchers to develop new skills whilst giving voice to marginalised groups of older people. The analysis highlights the different ways in which older adults can be involved across phases of research, and identifies ethical, methodological and practical challenges encountered in the process. Involving older adults as co-researchers, while labour intensive and practically challenging, holds promise as an underdeveloped resource for social gerontology, as well as older people themselves. The paper identifies four pathways for improving and extending co-research: developing diversified structures of involvement, supporting co-researchers, embedding research rigour and ensuring co-ownership of change

Sociaal kapitaal en gezondheid

Het begrip sociaal kapitaal werd al uitvoerig behandeld in de basistekst ‘Netwerken, vertrouwen en wederkerigheid. Over de complexiteit van het concept sociaal kapitaal’ (Welzijnsgids-Noden, Relatiepatronen, Afl.75 dec.2009, Buf.1-36). Deze bijdrage richt zich op de rol van sociaal kapitaal als determinant van gezondheid en welzijn. In de internationale literatuur is de invloed – zowel de positieve als de negatieve invloed – van sociaal kapitaal op gezondheid regelmatig aangehaald. Dit artikel geeft aan de hand van een historisch kader weer dat de aandacht voor de sociale determinanten van gezondheid geen nieuw verschijnsel is. Nadien wordt beschreven hoe verschillende componenten van sociaal kapitaal zowel op micro- als op macroniveau met gezondheid en welzijn in verband worden gebracht. Ten slotte wordt dieper ingegaan op drie dimensies van sociaal kapitaal, namelijk bonding, bridging en linking sociaal kapitaal, en hun invloed op gezondheid. Maar eerst en vooral staan we kort stil bij de betekenis en kenmerken van het begrip sociaal kapitaal

COVID-19, inequality and older people::Developing community-centred interventions

This paper considers the basis for a ‘community-centred’ response to COVID-19. It highlights the pressures on communities weakened by austerity, growing inequalities, and cuts to social infrastructure. This paper examines the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on low-income communities, whilst highlighting the extent to which they have been excluded from debates about policies to limit the spread of COVID-19. This paper examines four approaches to assist the inclusion of neighbourhoods in strategies to tackle the pandemic: promoting community participation; recruiting advocates for those who are isolated; creating a national initiative for supporting community-centred activity; and developing policies for the long-term. This paper concludes with questions which society and communities will need to address given the potential continuation of measures to promote physical distancing

Enhancing Student Wellbeing in Secondary Education by Combining Self-regulated Learning and Arts Education

AbstractA low level of student wellbeing is considered an important indicator of risk for stagnation in secondary schools. The development of students’ self-regulatory skills leads to an increase of task setting, problem solving behaviour, etc. and could therefore serve as a strategy to improve school wellbeing and ultimately achievement. Due to its positive influence on the study environment, arts education is conducive to students’ wellbeing as well. The present paper presents a theoretical exploration of the benefits of implementing arts education and self-regulated learning principles for student wellbeing, as well as the opportunities of combining both learning approaches