1. Age Friendly Communities
Associate Professor Stephen Neville

2. Age-Friendly Community Evaluation
Funded by the Office for Seniors MSD
Project team
Associate Professor Stephen Neville – Principal Investigator
Dr Jeff Adams – Co Investigator
Sara Napier – Co Investigator
Kay Shannon – Co Investigator
Purpose of this presentation is overview the key findings from our Office for Seniors funded evaluation of the 3 pilot sites – Hamilton, Kapiti and New Plymouth.

3. Why age-friendly? In response to older people living longer
Supports ageing in place and active ageing
Older people prefer to live in communities they are familiar with
Promote health and well-being
Reduces admissions to long term care
This slide is just a reminder, something which you will all be familiar with.

4. Background
Mid-2015, Office for Seniors has been working in partnership with Hamilton, Kapiti Coast District and New Plymouth to become age- friendly
Used different approaches to the implementation of the age-friendly framework
Funding provided
AUTCAA were was contracted to undertake an evaluation of the processes utilised by the three pilot sites in implementing the age- friendly cities and communities model. The evaluation was conducted from November 2017 to May 2018.

5. Research aims
Describe the process of implementing age-friendly approaches in Hamilton, Kapiti Coast District and New Plymouth
Provide foundational empirical data that will support future age- friendly initiatives both within the three pilot sites as well as in other communities in New Zealand including achieving the goal of having New Zealand recognised by WHO as age-friendly

6. Research design Process evaluation Case study Strengths based
Utilised participatory principles
Active collaboration with key stakeholders in the design, implementation and interpretation of the evaluation
Stakeholders and evaluators jointly determined the criteria for the research questions and discussed the results at a sense-making session

7. Research process
Stakeholders and Office for Seniors engaged at the beginning
Determined evaluation framework
Determined data sources
Affirmed the research approach
Document review and individual interviews
Triangulation of data sets - documents from the Office for Seniors and the three pilot sites and interview data.
Firstly, key stakeholders were identified and I met with these groups – Office for Seniors staff, council member and community member/s.
Stakeholder group helped me determine the best people to contact as potential interviewees as well as key documents I should access.
Evaluation framework – focus of the study, who to interview, how to interview, best data sources and questions to be asked of the documents and participants.
Ethical approval from AUTEC.

8. Evaluation questions
What processes were used to initiate an age-friendly approach in each of the sites, including top down/bottom up?
What processes were undertaken to assess community needs in each pilot site?
To what extent have communities been engaged with in each age-friendly pilot site?
To what extent have Maori and migrant communities been engaged with in each age-friendly pilot?
What age-friendly activities have been initiated in each pilot site (activities that have happened)
What age-friendly projects are planned for the future in each pilot site?
What are the enablers to initiating age-friendly programmes/activities?
What are the barriers to initiating age-friendly programmes/activities?

9. Stakeholder group
Number of participants
Office for Seniors 4
Hamilton
Hamilton City Council
Age-friendly Steering Group
Community representative 1 2 3
Kapiti Coast District
Kapiti Coast District Council
New Plymouth
New Plymouth Council
Total number of participants 22

10. Results Data analytic process was driven by the evaluation questions
Data were presented under each of the questions in the report and was a combination of data excerpts and findings from the document review

11. Results
Different approaches & progressed different rates re implementation
All had implemented age-friendly programmes
Improving access to services e.g. transport
Older people focused events e.g. Kaumatua Olympics
Improvement to outdoor spaces e.g. access to facilities
Improved access to information e.g. housing options, financial literacy
Ensuring businesses are age-friendly e.g. age-friendly customer choice awards
Each of the sites are at different stages of the journey with Hamilton having completed and submitted the documentation to WHO to become age-friendly.

12. Enablers Central government support Local council support
A committed steering group
Community engagement
Awareness
Strengths based sustainability

13. Barriers Lack of support from central government
Lack of support from local councils
Difficulties getting started
Lack of wider community engagement
Ageist attitudes

14. Critical success factors are when …
There is ‘buy-in’ from central and local government
The Office for Seniors provide on-going support and resources
Age-friendly programmes are community-led
Age-friendly community partnerships are developed with Māori and migrant groups
There is diverse representation on Steering Groups
Steering Groups have clearly articulated vision, purpose and goals
Steering groups have strong community representation
Steering groups have skilled and effective leadership
Overall these were success factors but did not always occur consistently in each site.

15. Critical success factors are when …
There is succession planning for leadership roles on Steering Groups
A dedicated council representative sits on the Steering Group
There is endorsement of the age-friendly programme by local council
The Office for Seniors facilitate a relationship between Steering Group and local council where necessary
There are mechanisms for raising awareness of the age-friendly brand using a wide range of media and formats
Ageism is challenged and addressed
Communities have the expertise and ability to undertake their own needs assessments.
Overall these were success factors but did not always occur consistently in each site.

16. The Office for Seniors could consider …
developing a toolkit to support communities to become age-friendly
fostering the development of positive working relationships between local councils and communities
providing guidance to communities on mechanisms for engaging with Māori and migrant communities
undertaking an educative role to ensure central and local government, and communities understand what age-friendly means

17. Thank you …
Questions, discussion, comments …