Abstract
Developing age-friendly communities has become a significant dimension in debates in social policy (Buffel et al. 2012, 2014). A variety of factors have stimulated discussion around this topic, including: first, the impact of demographic change across the global north and south (Menec et al. 2011); second, awareness of the impact of urban change on older people, notably in areas experiencing social and economic deprivation (Buffel et al. 2013a); and, third, debates about good or optimal places to age, as reflected in debates around lifetime homes and lifetime neighborhoods (Scharlach and Lehning 2013).
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Notes
- 1.
That is, regional or territorial competences, exercised by the institutions of the Brussels-Capital Region; and community or linguistically determined, cultural and political competences, exercised by the Flemish Community Commission (VGC); the French Community Commission (COCOF) and the Common Community Commission (GGC/COCON).
- 2.
Note: The cities of Brussels and Manchester (not the Region of Brussels and Greater Manchester) applied for membership in the WHO global network.
- 3.
Over 140 municipalities participated in the BAS project, the large majority of which is located in the Flemish Region of Belgium . In each of these municipalities, a random sample from the population register was drawn, applying stratified quota where the proportion of features such as gender and age (60–69, 70–79 and 80 years and over) are identical to the underlying population (total N = 64.737). Due to the participatory method involving older volunteers, the first response rate was between 65 and 85 % in each of the municipalities. (see further, www.belgianageingstudies.be)
- 4.
BGOP was a Government -initiated programme of 32 ‘pilot’ local government projects in the UK developing new approaches to developing the engagement of older people within the community.
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Buffel, T. et al. (2016). Developing Age-Friendly Cities: Case Studies from Brussels and Manchester and Implications for Policy and Practice. In: Sánchez-González, D., Rodríguez-Rodríguez, V. (eds) Environmental Gerontology in Europe and Latin America. International Perspectives on Aging, vol 13. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21419-1_15
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