Abstract

Population ageing is affecting all western countries. The average age of people is increasing and older people constitute a larger proportion of our society. In response to this evolution, Flemish local policymakers became aware of the need to develop evidence-based local senior policy plans. This contribution seeks to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of involving older people in research, policy and social change at the local level. In particular, it focuses on ‘Belgian Ageing Studies’, a research program which monitors the needs and quality of life among home-dwelling older people (e.g. on housing, community, participation, care) in order to provide tools for evidence-based ‘age-friendly’ policies at the local level. The research program was developed in co-creation with older people, senior associations, senior advisory boards, local authorities, and other stakeholders. Older people are involved in this research as experts and actors by playing a significant role in the development of the study as well as the data collection and the evaluation (peer-research). In 10 years time, over 80 000 older respondents and 8000 older volunteers participated in the research program. The process of the BAS program in which older people actively engage as participants and develop a sense of co-ownership shows how participatory research can play a role in promoting evidence-based senior policies.

How to Cite:

De Donder, L., Verté, D. & De Witte, N., (2016) “Belgian Ageing Studies: participatief actie-onderzoek naar en met ouderen”, Sociologos 37(1), 20–33. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sociologos.86902