Agencements of Reanimation: Facilitating an Active Old Age through Danish Co-Creation Initiatives

Abstract

Contemporary healthy and active aging policies coincide with new forms of governance in European welfare states promoting active citizenship, which in Denmark has been termed “co-creation.” As active aging and co-creation policies go hand in hand, new forms of health promotion programs and public-private collaborations emerge. This article centers on two initiatives that target older people in two Danish municipalities: a local COPD-choir in Vordingborg and the local department in Ishøj of the (inter)national Cycling without Age association. The municipalities take on the assignment of reanimating old age through such initiatives, by challenging the institutional barriers of the municipality. The article describes how co-creation is a redistribution of agency in the European welfare states and how older volunteers are called upon to participate in the organization of municipal initiatives, while at the same time these initiatives come with pre-fixed definitions of “good” old age. The article explores the co-creation initiatives as indicative of the agencements (Çalışkan and Callon 2010) of reanimation that endeavor to revive old age and subjectivise older people as active citizens. While such agencement involves health promotion, this article argues that the aim of initiatives is instead to engage older citizens, and hence to facilitate an active old age.

Essential factors and key features in designing active aging programs and their outcomes: A narrative review study

“…In the field of active aging programs, the majority of studies were conducted in Spain ( n = 6),[ 16 21 23 24 25 26 ] Mexico ( n = 4),[ 11 27 28 29 ] United States of America ( n = 3),[ 30 31 32 ] China ( n = 3)[ 33 34 35 ] and England ( n = 3),[ 36 37 38 ] respectively. Other countries carried out one or two studies in this area: Canada,[ 39 40 ] Denmark,[ 17 41 ] Australia,[ 42 43 ] Italy,[ 18 44 ] Portugal,[ 20 45 ] Iran,[ 22 46 ] Union Europe,[ 47 ] the Republic of Tatarstan,[ 48 ] Scotland,[ 49 ] Chile,[ 50 ] Germany,[ 51 ] and Brazil. [ 52 ] Most studies were conducted from 2015 onwards ( n = 32, 80%).…”

“…Various researchers have implemented and investigated active aging programs such as the Active Aging Program in Nursing Homes in Spain,[ 16 ] Facilitating an Active Old Age through Danish Co-Creation Initiatives in Denmark,[ 17 ] Green Care the Informal Learning program in Italy,[ 18 ] Vital Aging Program,[ 19 ] Promotion of Active Aging through Interactive Artificial Agents in a Smart Environment in Portugal,[ 20 ] and Development of a Videogame for the Promotion of Active Aging through Depression Prevention, Healthy Lifestyle Habits, and Cognitive Stimulation for Middle-to-Older Aged Adults in Spain. [ 21 ] These programs are targeted at improving the well-being of older adults and examining factors and features related to active aging, which ended in physical and cognitive function, nutrition, and quality of life improvements.…”

Co-Creation and Co-Production of Health Promoting Activities Addressing Older People—A Scoping Review

“…Among the remaining articles, 160 did not deal with topics concerning the co-creation or co-production of activities with older people aged 60+ and were excluded. Thus, 18 full-text articles were included [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ]; a flow chart illustrating the study selection process can be seen in Figure 1 .…”

“…All included studies described a future aim, or an outcome related to the health and well-being of older people: The studies focusing on the social and physical activities co-created or co-produced were all related to the overall promotion of both mental and physical health and well-being. Some studies emphasized the importance of social participation to prevent social isolation and loneliness, create a sense of belonging, and promote an active old age [ 32 , 34 ], while other studies described the promotion of an active old age through both physical and social activity [ 43 ] and encouraged people to stay active and promoted independence and dignity [ 48 ].…”

“…Skilled facilitators Facilitators being solely academic group members challenges equity Guell, C., Panter, J., Griffin, S., Ogilvie, D., 2018 [ 41 ] Interviews, observations, and workshops to explore lifelong practices and aspirations of active aging to develop a typology for being active, describe barriers to staying active, and discuss new strategies to promote active living Active aging None mentioned None mentioned Hatton, A.L., Haslam, C., Bell, S., Langley, J., Woolrych, R., Cory, C., 2020 [ 42 ] One-day workshop with presentations and group discussions about opportunities, challenges, and barriers encountered with aging Aging well in the environment Early engagement of participants Selection bias in the recruitment of participants. Pre-defined themes Lassen, AJ., 2019 [ 43 ] Rickshaw bike rides through town Active old age through physical and social activity The municipality distancing itself from legislation authority Budget constraints. Recruitment of volunteers Leask, C.F., Sandlund, M., Skelton, D.A., Chastin, S.F.M., 2017 [ 44 ] Ten workshops to reduce sedentary behavior in older adults Reduction in sedentary behavior Detailed and agreed aim of the co-creation process.…”