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Towards evidence-based approaches to monitoring and evaluating age-friendly cities and communities: Reflections from the Western Pacific and Nordic Regions

Xu, Wenqian LU orcid ; Maija Zechner, Minna ; Viknaraj Sivabalan, Thava ; Low, Lian Leng ; Shon, Changwoo ; Chen, Honglin ; Reuter, Arlind LU orcid ; Turner, Diane ; Tiilikainen, Elisa and Kiyota, Emi , et al. (2025) Creating age-friendly environments: research, policy and practice In Urban Studies p.1-12
Abstract
Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCC) is a key global WHO initiative aimed at fostering environments that promote healthy aging for everyone. As AFCC initiatives continue to expand, there is an increasing need to enhance monitoring and evaluation systems to effectively assess their progress and impact. However, significant knowledge gaps persist, particularly in the development of evaluation methods and AFCC indicators. Drawing on discussions and outcomes from an international, interdisciplinary expert meeting on age-friendly environments held in Shanghai in May 2024, this article offers a synthesis of key insights and reflections. We present examples from AFCCs in the Western Pacific and Nordic regions, and recommendations to enhance... (More)
Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCC) is a key global WHO initiative aimed at fostering environments that promote healthy aging for everyone. As AFCC initiatives continue to expand, there is an increasing need to enhance monitoring and evaluation systems to effectively assess their progress and impact. However, significant knowledge gaps persist, particularly in the development of evaluation methods and AFCC indicators. Drawing on discussions and outcomes from an international, interdisciplinary expert meeting on age-friendly environments held in Shanghai in May 2024, this article offers a synthesis of key insights and reflections. We present examples from AFCCs in the Western Pacific and Nordic regions, and recommendations to enhance monitoring and evaluation with a focus on indicators. This includes defining clear objectives, addressing the diverse needs of target groups, tailoring evaluation methods, assessing both the processes and outcomes of AFCC initiatives. Regarding AFCC indicators, we argue that several areas require further attention, including the need for a robust framework that emphasizes equity and inclusivity and the varied experiences of older adults. For example, this framework should guide the development of indicators that address older adults’ needs during life transitions, reflect societal transitions, and leverage interconnected age-friendly domains to promote health and well-being. We recommend developing AFCC indicators through participatory and developmental processes that encourage stakeholder engagement, particularly involving older adults. Research is needed to develop context-specific indicators and evaluation tools through local and regional studies, validate the indicators across diverse contexts, and incorporate global best practices for using indicators to achieve policy impact. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
Urban Studies
pages
1 - 12
publisher
SAGE Publications
conference name
Creating age-friendly environments: research, policy and practice
conference location
Shanghai, China
conference dates
2024-01-01 - 2024-06-30
ISSN
1360-063X
DOI
10.1177/00420980251375852
project
Ageing without Children
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ae0afe2f-ef82-478e-930f-b17dda49747b
date added to LUP
2025-07-03 05:12:56
date last changed
2025-10-17 07:45:56
@article{ae0afe2f-ef82-478e-930f-b17dda49747b,
  abstract     = {{Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCC) is a key global WHO initiative aimed at fostering environments that promote healthy aging for everyone. As AFCC initiatives continue to expand, there is an increasing need to enhance monitoring and evaluation systems to effectively assess their progress and impact. However, significant knowledge gaps persist, particularly in the development of evaluation methods and AFCC indicators. Drawing on discussions and outcomes from an international, interdisciplinary expert meeting on age-friendly environments held in Shanghai in May 2024, this article offers a synthesis of key insights and reflections. We present examples from AFCCs in the Western Pacific and Nordic regions, and recommendations to enhance monitoring and evaluation with a focus on indicators. This includes defining clear objectives, addressing the diverse needs of target groups, tailoring evaluation methods, assessing both the processes and outcomes of AFCC initiatives. Regarding AFCC indicators, we argue that several areas require further attention, including the need for a robust framework that emphasizes equity and inclusivity and the varied experiences of older adults. For example, this framework should guide the development of indicators that address older adults’ needs during life transitions, reflect societal transitions, and leverage interconnected age-friendly domains to promote health and well-being. We recommend developing AFCC indicators through participatory and developmental processes that encourage stakeholder engagement, particularly involving older adults. Research is needed to develop context-specific indicators and evaluation tools through local and regional studies, validate the indicators across diverse contexts, and incorporate global best practices for using indicators to achieve policy impact.}},
  author       = {{Xu, Wenqian and Maija Zechner, Minna and Viknaraj Sivabalan, Thava and Low, Lian Leng and Shon, Changwoo and Chen, Honglin and Reuter, Arlind and Turner, Diane and Tiilikainen, Elisa and Kiyota, Emi and Iwarsson, Susanne}},
  issn         = {{1360-063X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  pages        = {{1--12}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Urban Studies}},
  title        = {{Towards evidence-based approaches to monitoring and evaluating age-friendly cities and communities: Reflections from the Western Pacific and Nordic Regions}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00420980251375852}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/00420980251375852}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}