This project aims to make Antwerp more age friendly by actively involving older adults through surveys and participatory processes, giving them a stronger voice and a greater sense of connection with their living environment. At the same time, the project focuses on local authorities as key stakeholders, translating collected insights into policy measures that sustainably improve the quality of life for older residents.
Problem Statement
Population ageing presents cities like Antwerp with significant challenges regarding accessibility, well being, and participation of older adults. Although the WHO framework for age friendly cities is applied internationally, Antwerp lacks a systematic approach at the district level. Older adults encounter barriers related to mobility, public space, and services, and earlier data collection showed that the translation into concrete action often remained limited.
This research therefore centres on participatory action research, bringing older adults, researchers, and policymakers together to develop feasible solutions for challenges in the living environment. By investing in co creation and district specific trajectories—such as the one in Deurne—the project aims not only to strengthen the engagement of older residents but also to generate genuine policy impact and contribute to a sustainable, age friendly city.
Research Questions
General research questions
- To what extent do older, non-residentially living inhabitants of Antwerp experience their district as age friendly?
- What do independently living older residents identify as priority action points to support high quality, non-residential living?
- Which actions do older residents wish to initiate based on the research findings, and what does undertaking these actions teach us about barriers and opportunities in the pursuit of a more age friendly district?
Additional research questions for Hoboken and Borgerhout
- How can recommendations from the preliminary study be translated into concrete actions?
- Which communication channels and approaches are the most efficient and effective for this purpose?
- How can we ensure a sustainable approach in which participatory action research remains central?
Additional research questions for Deurne
- To what extent do older, independently living residents of Deurne experience the district as age friendly?
- What potential improvements do they see for creating a more age friendly environment?
- What preparations can researchers take, after the initial data collection on age friendly cities, to transition into participatory action research in which concrete changes are implemented together with older adults and the local government?
Research Methodology
In Deurne, the needs of independently living adults aged 65+ are assessed using a validated WHO checklist. Students and older volunteers assist with data collection, fostering intergenerational collaboration and engagement. Survey findings are then explored further in focus groups where older adults actively contribute to identifying priorities and policy actions through a co creative process.
In Hoboken and Borgerhout, the emphasis is on Participatory Action Research (PAR). A taskforce of older adults is established to engage in ongoing dialogue with the district administration. Through regular meetings and joint action planning, the challenges identified in earlier phases are translated into concrete recommendations and policy measures. Older adults take an active role in both the conceptual and implementation stages.
This approach results in well supported, locally grounded solutions and an adaptable methodology that can be applied in other districts and policy areas.
Expected Outcomes
- Insights from the research in Hoboken and Borgerhout will be consolidated into a SilverScore model, highlighting identified bottlenecks.
- Findings from the Deurne study will be compiled into a research report.
- A protocol for participatory action research with older adults.
- A study day sharing the project results and methodology.