Collaborative Partnership in Age-Friendly Cities: Two Case Studies From Quebec, Canada

Abstract

This article aims to explain the collaborative partnership conditions and factors that foster implementation effectiveness within the age-friendly cities (AFC) in Quebec (AFC-QC), Canada. Based on a community-building approach that emphasizes collaborative partnership, the AFC-QC implementation process is divided into three steps: (1) social diagnostic of older adults' needs; (2) an action plan based on a logic model; and (3) implementation through collaborations. AFC-QC promotes direct involvement of older adults and seniors' associations at each of the three steps of the implementation process, as well as other stakeholders in the community. Based on two contrasting case studies, this article illustrates the importance of collaborative partnership for the success of AFC implementation. Results show that stakeholders, agencies, and organizations are exposed to a new form of governance where coordination and collaborative partnership among members of the steering committee are essential. Furthermore, despite the importance of the senior associations' participation in the process, they encountered significant limits in the capacity of implementing age-friendly environments solely by themselves. In conclusion, we identify the main collaborative partnership conditions and factors in AFC-QC.

Sense of Community Mediating Between Age-Friendly Characteristics and Life Satisfaction of Community-Dwelling Older Adults

“…Demographic changes worldwide, including population aging and urbanization, draw attention to processes of well-being in older age, linked to active aging, community engagement, and life satisfaction. The sense of community can have implications for identifying best practices and sustainable interventions (Garon et al, 2014;Chan and Cao, 2015). Social connectedness and inclusion have been identified as major benefits of agefriendly initiatives (Menec et al, 2011;Emlet and Moceri, 2012).…”

Capturing how age-friendly communities foster positive health, social participation and health equity: a study protocol of key components and processes that promote population health in aging Canadians

“…Previous research focused mainly on comparing age-friendly approaches [48] or assessment [49], detecting factors that assist communities in or hinder them from becoming age-friendly [50], explaining the collaborative partnership conditions and factors that foster implementation effectiveness [51], as well as identifying priorities for actions [52]. This research provided valuable information on most common projects that, for example in Manitoba, were related to outdoor spaces, buildings, communications and activities (e.g., walking groups, contacting isolated older adults) [52].…”

An integrative review of the factors related to building age‐friendly rural communities

“…Subsequently, other regions are developing age-friendly initiatives, including the State of South Australia, the Andalusian Province in Spain and the State of Sao Paulo in Brazil. Researchers from across disciplines, have identified that a participatory, collaborative style of governance is a key feature of the age-friendly model, with engagement needed at all levels of government (Lui et al 2009, Plouffe & Kalache 2011, Ball & Lawler 2014, Garon et al 2014. Other initiatives, with similarities to age-friendly city initiatives, have been reported on in the literature, such as the 'liveable communities' in the United States of America (USA) and 'lifetime neighbourhood' in the United Kingdom (Lui et al 2009).…”