Hosted by COTA ACT & the ANU Centre for Research on Ageing, Health & Wellbeing, with the support of CEPAR, the event featured presentations from two leading UK experts, Professor Christopher Phillipson and Dr Tine Buffel, on how to turn the age-friendly dream into reality.
Professor Phillipson reviewed the development and characteristics of age-friendly communities, outlined some European initiatives, and assessed the effectiveness of the age-friendly approach for improving the quality of life of older people.
Dr Buffel developed these themes in more detail, drawing on a research project which involved older people as co-investigators in researching the age-friendliness of their neighbourhood. Dr Buffel also highlighted some of the challenges and opportunities associated with involving community members themselves in research and action.