INCLUDING OLDER PEOPLE IN PUBLIC POLICY: STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF 14 YEARS OF BELGIAN AGEING STUDIES

摘要

The Belgian Ageing Studies was developed as a participatory project involving older people to assess the age-friendliness of their community and to develop a local policy plan based on the findings of the assessment. This contribution will look back at 14 years of the Belgian Ageing Studies, and reflect on the realizations, strengths and limitations of this research-policy program. An online-survey was sent out to all communities who participated throughout the years. Results will highlight both the strengths (e.g. research for and by older people; broadened view of policy domains important for older people, establishment of a sustainable peer-research program rather than a one-time project) and limitations (e.g. difficulties in translating research results into policy action plans, difficulties in reaching migrant groups) from the research project. The paper concludes by discussing key recommendations for Belgian Ageing Studies 2.0 in order to tackle exclusion of older people in public policy.