TOWARDS AN ACTIVE CARING COMMUNITY IN BRUSSELS

• Published in: Innovation in aging Vol. 2; no. suppl_1; p. 217
• Main Authors: Smetcoren, A, De Donder, L, Duppen, D, De Witte, N, Van Mechelen, O, Verté, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 11.11.2018
• Subjects: Abstracts
• ISSN: 2399-5300; 2399-5300
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.800

This study addresses how age-friendly social environments can support frail older people to ‘age actively in place’. A qualitative study was performed involving 11 focusgroups (e.g. older residents, volunteers, professionals) in two disadvantaged neighborhoods in Brussels. Findings indicate five key issues crucial to consider when creating supportive age-friendly social environments: 1) the decreasing availability of kinship support networks; 2) the significance of neighbors in the support networks; 3) the idea of making existing connections and networks ‘visible’; 4) the multi-dimensional relational aspects of support; and 5) the need to move beyond care and support. The discussion highlights that although age-friendliness could have a significant impact on all age groups living within a given neighbourhood, it could be particularly beneficial to those who lack the means to improve their situation and to those more reliant on their immediate locality for support, providing new support prospects for ‘ageing well in place’.