Life Span Development

Reports research findings specifically examining the critical initial stage of engaging older residents in community development activities and the practice of community development with older adults in multi-cultural settings. In its Global Age Friendly Cities project, the World Health Organization identifies social engagement as one indicator of an Age Friendly Community. Such engagement can take can take many forms. The Elder Friendly Communities Programme, located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, examined the practice of community development with older adults in their neighborhoods. While community development is an historic social work practice modality, social work researchers and practitioners have not focused their attention on the nature of community development with an older population. Elder Friendly Communities was a seven year demonstration effort, which included a two ear qualitative research study, focused on how the neighborhood based community development effort unfolded.