More than Just a Talkfest: The Process of Developing Collaborations in Ageing across Two Different Community Types

Abstract

In the contemporary context, collaborations between different sectors are increasingly being used to solve complex policy problems. This includes those posed by population ageing, as one of the principal demographic forces shaping the policy agenda of countries such as Australia. This article draws on findings from a three-year research project designed to develop effective collaborations aimed at achieving local initiatives associated with ageing well within the community. The specific aim of this article is to analyse and compare the process of collaboration that developed in two different urban communities, employing a conceptual framework of effective collaboration developed from the literature. The framework comprises six inter-connected factors-the context, member characteristics, processes and procedures, structures and relationships, the purpose or goal of the collaboration, and the available resources. The two study communities comprised one traditional ageing-in-place context and one sea change environment, in order to look for similarities and differences across alternative urban environments associated with population ageing. The intention of the article is to contribute to knowledge around building effective community-based collaborations.

Collaborative Governance of Ageing: Challenges for Local Government in Partnering with the Seniors' Sector

“…Elsewhere we have reported insights into the capacity to collaborate within the groups (Everingham et al 2010) and also explored the contrasting collaborative performance of the two groups (Warburton et al 2011). Findings from the study reported in this paper focus on the role of local government in the process of development and implementation of local collaborations, and some of the key tensions that emerged as a result of this cross-sectoral partnership.…”

“…The council, through its community development work, served as an influential linking mechanism prepared to build the relationships so crucial to effective collaboration. In contrast, at Community B, there was considerable experience of more formal contacts and sharing, particularly among service providers (for further information see Warburton et al 2011). However, the informational networks that resulted (in the terms of McGuire 2006) had not built social capital and capacity that a new collaboration could harness (Stewart 2003) or that was transferable to different partners and issues.…”

“…Elsewhere the authors have examined a range of factors that impact on the operation of collaborative networks (see, for example, Warburton et al 2008, Warburton et al 2011. In this case, the focus has been on specific assumptions with respect to cross-sector partnerships and implications for local government's role in these.…”

Integrating Services for Older People in Aging Communities in The Netherlands: A Comparison of Urban and Rural Approaches

“…Many older people in rural areas face a "double jeopardy" due to growing frailty and loss of services (Joseph & Cloutier-Fisher, 2005). On the other hand, successful community initiatives to support aging in place have been developed in rural communities (e.g., Horsten, 2008;Walsh & O'Shea, 2008)-although success stories are reported in cities as well (e.g., Warburton et al, 2011). As yet, we have not seen a systematic comparison of urban versus rural "approaches" to services integration, and more specifically the ways in which these approaches are aligned with and address the advantages and disadvantages associated with urban and rural aging conditions.…”

“…This interdisciplinary literature has reported about interventions to improve the quality of the physical and social care environment (e.g., care-intensive forms of housing, adaptations to original homes, safe walking environments, meeting spaces, and strategies for social inclusion, amongst others) while also urging for the involvement of older dwellers through listening to their needs or building long-term collaborations (Everingham, Warburton, Cuthill, & Bartlett, 2012;Walsh & O'Shea, 2008;Warburton, Everingham, Cuthill, Bartlett, & Underwood, 2011). Contributions from health services research, in particular, have investigated the benefits and pitfalls of services integration for older people who live independently (Bedney et al, 2010;Brown, Tucker, & Domokos, 2003;Dubuc, Dubois, Raîche, Rokhaya Gueye, & H ebert, 2011;Glendinning, Coleman & Rummery, 2002;Greenfield, 2013;Kodner, 2002;Tang & Pickard, 2008).…”