TY - JOUR
T1 - Aging in Community: Mobilizing a New Paradigm of Older Adults as a Core Social Resource
AU - Black, Kathy
AU - Dobbs, Debra
AU - Young, Tiffany
PY - 2021/1/1
Y1 - 2021/1/1
N2 - Dignity and independence are widely considered as core concepts to aging well, yet little research has explored how older adults perceive these issues in the context of community life. Moreover, little is known regarding the ways in which the broader public views and enhances aging with dignity and independence with their older residents. Using participatory action research, multiple methods of qualitative inquiry, and tenets of appreciative inquiry, this article reports on a community-based initiative aimed to better understand the positive aspects of aging with dignity and independence. Synthesized findings yielded 6 “actionable themes”: (1) meaningful involvement, (2) aging in place, (3) respect and inclusion, (4) communication and information, (5) transportation and mobility, and (6) health and well-being. The findings invoke a new paradigm for community aging that highlights the unique contributions of older adults as a core social resource. Implications for mobilizing community action to promote aging with dignity and independence are discussed.
AB - Dignity and independence are widely considered as core concepts to aging well, yet little research has explored how older adults perceive these issues in the context of community life. Moreover, little is known regarding the ways in which the broader public views and enhances aging with dignity and independence with their older residents. Using participatory action research, multiple methods of qualitative inquiry, and tenets of appreciative inquiry, this article reports on a community-based initiative aimed to better understand the positive aspects of aging with dignity and independence. Synthesized findings yielded 6 “actionable themes”: (1) meaningful involvement, (2) aging in place, (3) respect and inclusion, (4) communication and information, (5) transportation and mobility, and (6) health and well-being. The findings invoke a new paradigm for community aging that highlights the unique contributions of older adults as a core social resource. Implications for mobilizing community action to promote aging with dignity and independence are discussed.
KW - participatory action research
KW - aging in place
KW - appreciative inquiry
KW - community-based participatory research
UR - https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/gey_facpub_sm/34
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464812463984
U2 - 10.1177/0733464812463984
DO - 10.1177/0733464812463984
M3 - Article
C2 - 25681387
VL - 34
JO - Journal of Applied Gerontology
JF - Journal of Applied Gerontology
ER -