A Policy Framework for Producing Age-Friendly Communities from the Perspective of Production of Space

Abstract

Given various hindrances in the macro context, how to efficiently develop age-friendly community policies requires further research. Currently, such kinds of frameworks are lacking. This paper aims to develop a policy framework to minimise cost and resolve conflict of interest between different generations in age-friendly community development. The study adopted a scientometric method to review the theoretical development of age-friendly community studies. Firstly, with a search for the keywords “age-friendly” and “community” on Web of Science, 72 English academic papers were found containing explicit theories. Most of the studies were conducted in the Global North. Then, a mixed analytical method was used to find a suitable theory, “the production of space”, to develop the policy framework. Lastly, a policy framework was developed to overcome barriers to age-friendly community development strategically. Echoing previous studies, this paper proposes a way to counter financial austerity in age-friendly initiative investment and balance the consideration for older and younger populations in urban development. For practice, the policy framework can provide a reference for more efficient age-friendly community policymaking in different regions. For future research, the framework provides a model for more empirical studies considering the social dynamics in age-friendly community development.

The Effects of Public Open Space on Older People’s Well-Being: From Neighborhood Social Cohesion to Place Dependence

“…This is because when people identify themselves strongly with where they live, they are motivated to seek, stay in, protect and improve the places that are meaningful to them, and their involvement and contribution will be rewarded with well-being [ 110 ]. According to He et al (2018) and Chou (2018), many older people in Hong Kong do not have enough opportunities for community participation due to financial constraints and insufficient accessibility of safe transportation [ 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 ]. Moreover, the research was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Responding to Local Needs by Mobilizing Community Assets: Age-Friendly Community Initiatives During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…By exploring the work of AFCI core teams during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study contributes empirically grounded theory on the role of AFCIs within communities and their arguably unique interorganizational “space” in the field of aging and within society at large. Findings also help to advance theory on ways in which AFCIs can be designed and embedded within existing systems toward long-term community impact, a growing concern of the age-friendly movement as it enters its third decade (see Han et al, 2022 , for further discussion). Continued scholarship at the intersections of research, theory, and practice is essential to understand, optimize, and sustain community-centered responses to population aging and issues of aging equity, both during times of social crisis and in the everyday.…”

Construction and improvement strategies of an age-friendly evaluation system for public spaces in affordable housing communities: a case study of Shenzhen

“…Quantitative research methods obtain specific properties of the environment through observations and measurements and conduct descriptive and objective data analysis. They are generally used in the data analysis process to evaluate differences in demographic characteristics and the perceived impact of older adult health and quality of life on the degree of age-friendliness ( 55 , 56 ). The subjective perception evaluation of indicators by older adult, government officials, nursing staff, and other stakeholders forms the basis of both qualitative and quantitative methods.…”