A Development of Healthy Ageing City Model*

Abstract

This research and development is a model development activity applying multimethodology approach to study the elements, qualities, and the means of a ‘Healthy Ageing
City’. The multi-methods include: 1) documentary research 2) participatory action research
and 3) qualitative research. The subjects include senior respondents, older relatives,
household, government and NGO agencies. These include institutions such as
government/private organizations, local administration and the other organizations pertaining
to the elderly. Data analysis was done by computing frequencies, percentages, means and
content analysis.
Results show that the elements of Healthy Ageing City include: 1) Environmental
aspects composed of residence and public facilities; 2) Social aspects composed of the
elderly rights/citizens rights, the participation of democratic development, economic, health
service, public service, designing policy for the elderly, safety, social support, and membership
in groups/clubs/networks. The qualities of a Healthy Ageing City include knowledge sharing,
sharing vision and values, creating social and historical consciousness, community
participation, a safe community and coexisting happily. The Healthy Ageing City Model is
composed of five process: 1) Identifying the target area; 2) Creating history realization; 3)
promoting participation; 4) Creating Sociological Imagination; and 5) Investigating validity.
The recommendations for practice include the concept that the community should
apply ‘People Research and Development’ for community members to study history and
community context. This will help them understand themselves, feel proud and have
historical identity. The community should also encourage people to have history realization.
In addition, the involved organizations should offer opportunity for involving actors and
organizations to participate in every development process. These include thinking, deciding,
planning, managing, evaluation, solution development and having self-reliance. Furthermore
the connectivity between practices and structure should be created by introducing involved
sectors to exchange learning and solve the problems to develop quality of life. To achieve
these goals the system needs to be more pro-active. The various systems including health,
education, economic and social sectors need to be closely and continually connected.