Translating Research into Action: involving older people in co-producing knowledge about age-friendly neighbourhood interventions
ISSN: 1366-3666
Article publication date: 29 January 2018
Issue publication date: 14 March 2018
Abstract
Purpose
Developing what has been termed “age-friendly” cities has become a significant issue for public policy. To date, however, there is limited knowledge about how older people can be involved in the co-production of age-friendly initiatives. The Translating Research into Action project worked with a group of older co-researchers who examined the age-friendliness of their neighbourhood, with the aim of translating the findings into practice and policy recommendations that can help improve the quality of life of older people in urban neighbourhoods. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper synthetises the data collected through focus groups, interviews conducted by co-researchers and a public dissemination event. The analysis focussed on identifying the suggestions for action and change that could improve the social and physical environment for older people in urban neighbourhoods.
Findings
Physical and social issues were found to be contingent on each other and mutually reinforcing, and should therefore not be considered in isolation. However, the findings highlighted physical environmental issues as a major concern; transport was a dominant overarching theme.
Research limitations/implications
Three key areas in need of improvement when developing local level age-friendly policies and practices are discussed: improving and diversifying communication and information; promoting accessibility; and, ensuring a range of meeting opportunities for different groups.
Originality/value
The paper illustrates how co-produced research can be translated into age-friendly interventions, and will be of interest to a wide range of local and (inter)national organisations wishing to research and provide advocacy to older people.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the co-researchers, community organisations and local authority staff who were involved in this research. This research has been supported through an ESRC Future Leaders Fellowship at the University of Manchester and a Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing (MICRA) seedcorn funding grant.
Citation
Doran, P. and Buffel, T. (2018), "Translating Research into Action: involving older people in co-producing knowledge about age-friendly neighbourhood interventions", Working with Older People, Vol. 22 No. 1, pp. 39-47. https://doi.org/10.1108/WWOP-11-2017-0033
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited