Urbanisation and population ageing: An interdisciplinary approach to understanding 'ageing in place' in cities
This research programme (2021-2026) generates groundbreaking knowledge on population ageing and urbanisation – two of the most significant social trends of the 21st century.
It is theoretically and methodologically innovative, drawing upon an interdisciplinary approach that involves fieldwork in seven contrasting cities across the world.
Aims of the research
- Co-produce innovative models of dissemination with various stakeholder groups
- Advance understanding of ‘ageing in place’ in cities using interdisciplinary perspectives
- Examine policies and age-friendly initiatives aimed at supporting ageing in place across seven cities
- Explore experiences of ageing in place among diverse ageing populations (reflecting different ethnic, gender and class backgrounds) living in urban neighbourhoods
- Develop methods and tools for measuring and reporting the impact of age-friendly interventions
A Spatial Justice Framework for Age-Friendly Cities
The project seeks to transform current research on the relationship between ageing and urbanisation by developing an innovate theoretical framework of age-friendly cities and communities around the concept of spatial justice.
A spatial justice framework brings a focus on how age-friendly interventions could be used to respond to the inequalities within the older population whilst improving the experience of ageing in place amongst minoritised and marginalised groups.
Building on our spatial justice framework, the project aims to compare the development of age-friendly policy across all 7 cites. Working with partners in the cities, the project has collected demographic data and examples of age-friendly initiatives from each case study city and the results have been considered in relation to the principles of equity, diversity and co-production.
Initial findings from this work can be viewed on our dedicated webpage: AFC Spatial Justice Framework
Funder
The Leverhulme Trust (Research Leadership Award)
Research Team
- Principal Investigator: Professor Tine Buffel
- Dr Sophie Yarker
- Dr Patty Doran
Find out more
Publications
- Yarker, S., Doran, P., & Buffel, T. (2023). Theorizing ‘place’ in aging in place: The need for territorial and relational perspectives. The Gerontologist, gnad002. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnad002
- Greenfield, E. and Buffel, T. (2022) Age-friendly cities and communities: Research to strengthen Policy and Practice, Journal of Aging & Social Policy. doi:10.1080/08959420.2022.2049573
- Yarker, S. and Buffel, T. (2022) Involving socially excluded groups in age-friendly programs: The role of a spatial lens and co-production approaches. Journal of Aging & Social Policy. doi: 10.1080/08959420.2022.2049571.
- James, H. and Buffel, T. (2022) Co-research with older people. A systematic literature review, Ageing & Society. 1-27.
- Doran, P.; Burden, S.; Shryane, N. (2021) Integration of Narratives Into Mixed Methods Research: An Example From a Study on the Value of Social Support to Older People With Cancer. Journal of Mixed Methods Research.
- Yarker, S. (2021) Creating spaces for an ageing society: the role of critical social infrastructure, Emerald Publishing Limited.
- Buffel, T.; Yarker, S.; Phillipson, C.; Lang, L.; Lewis, C.; Doran, P.; Goff, M. (2021) Locked down by inequality: Older people and the COVID-19 pandemic. Urban Studies, 1-18, Special issue: Urban Public Health Emergencies and The Covid-19 Pandemic.
- Buffel, T. (2021) A manifesto for the age-friendly movement: Supporting citizen engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration to improve older people’s lives. In Hammond, M. and Saunders, N. (eds) A design for life. Urban practices for an age-friendly city. Manchester: Manchester Metropolitan University Press.
- Zuniga, M., Buffel, T., and Arrieta, F. (2021) Analysing co-creation and co-production initiatives for the development of age-friendly strategies: Learning from three capital cities in the Basque Autonomous Region. Social Policy & Society, 1-16, doi: 10.1017/s1474746421000282
- Phillipson, C.; Yarker, S.; Lang, L.; Doran, P.; Goff, M.; Buffel, T. (2021) COVID-19, Inequality and Older People: Developing Community-Centred Interventions. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 18, 8064.
Events
Upcoming Events
We currently have no upcoming events.
Past Events
Dismantaling and Rebuilding Praxis for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, Tuesday 4 July.
Echoes of Displacement comic book launch, Monday 19 June 2023.
Conversations on Urban Ageing and Inclusivity in Manchetser's Rave Scene, Wednesday 14 June 2023.
Conversations in Urban Ageing and Alternative Housing Futures, Tuesday, 7 February 2023.
Trends in the Development of Housing for Older People in France: the Growth of Intermediate Housing, Monday 3 October 2022.
Conversations on Urban Ageing and Structural Racism, Tuesday, 7 June 2022.
Conversations on Urban Ageing and Urban Mobility, Tuesday, 5 Apr 2022.
Conversations on Urban Ageing and Spatial Justice, Tuesday, 15 Feb 2022.
Conversations on Urban Ageing and Social Infrastructure, Tuesday, 23 Nov 2021.
Conversations on Urban Ageing and Co-production, Tuesday, 19 Oct 2021.
Watch the launch event for the project with key notes from Emily Greenfield, Tine Buffel and Paul McGarry.
News and Activities
- The research team have been to Belgium recently. Patty Doran gave a key note presentation on participatory action research at the Public Health and Palliative Care Research Summer School in Ghent. And Tine Buffel, Patty Doran and Joana Salles conducted interviews for the Ageing in Place project in Brussels with key stakeholders. We had meetings with City of Brussels officials, members of the Advisory Council of Seniors, a fantastic not for profit organisation Rolling Douche, and with Age Platform Europe.
- Members of the Ageing in Place research team have won a Making a Difference Award, Outstanding benefit to society through research for their work on 'COVID-19, inequality and older people'
This project highlights the impact of COVID-19 on older people across the region, especially in relation to declining social contact and feelings of mental and physical deterioration. The research identified gaps in service provision for older people arising from the pandemic, in particular groups from minority ethnic communities, people self-identifying as LGTBQ+ , and those at risk of social isolation from low incomes or poor health. - Sophie Yarker recently took in a panel discussion as part of a Centre for Ageing Better webinar on Community Connections. The panellists discussed what needs to be in place to enable everyone to maintain, rebuild or grow our social connections as we age. Watch the recording via the Centre for Ageing Better website.
- Researchers from the Ageing in Place project have been recognised for their contribution to public engagement and won the Sociology Staff Public Engagement Prize (University of Manchester). The team won the prize for their work to reduce the risk of social exclusion for older people during the pandemic. Find out more.
- Tine Buffel has been elected as an expert member of World Health Organisation advisory group for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021-2030. The Technical Advisory Group reflects eminent experts in the major areas of relevance such as epidemiology, geriatrics, gerontology, demography, community development, and statistics.