Cultural participation
Oktober 16th 2014
Dominique Verté, Free Debacker, Sarah Dury, Nico De Witte,
Liesbeth De Donder
Klaar? Actie!
About cultural
participation of older
people
Perceptions of ageing
Belgian Ageing Studies
Aim of the research program
-
Assessing quality of life and living conditions of senior citizens
-
Tool for evidence-based policy on the local level
-
Tool for supporting the process of creating inclusive, age-friendly communities
and promoting active ageing
Belgian Ageng Studies
Working with a ‘peer research system’
- Stimulates political participation and consciousness among senior
citizens
- Opportunities to change and transform the conditions of all age
groups
Belgian Ageing Studies
5
② Belgian Ageing Studies
 Survey of quality of life and living conditions of
older people
 Representative sample in each municipality (N=165)
 Stratified for age & gender
 Peer-research method
 Response rate: between 65 and 85%
 N= 44.737 aged 60 and over
Not interested?
Not interested
To expensive
Timing in the evening
Non-participation (%)
68
24,3
21,9
Distance
Lack of time
Public transport
20,6
15,5
15,1
Mobility problems
17,1
Reservation procedure
11,3
Age
60-69 year
70-79 year
80 year and
older
Non
participants
Not
frequent
Frequent
participants
39,2
53,1
69,8
20,8
18,3
13,6
40,0
28,6
16,7
Main conclusions
– Half of the older population never participates
– Cultural participation = social activity
– The elderly don’t exist (no overall solutions)
– Heterogeneity
– No age specific programmation
Main conclusions
- Cultural participation of older people is also
determined by individual characteristics:
age, level of education, marital status, income,…
- Important, but is not enough to explain
cultural participation
Main conclusions
Age friendly offer: Distance
– Proximity
– Locality
– Decentralisation
– Mobility (public transport)
Main conclusions
Age friendly offer: Time
– Evening?
– 1/3 never leaves the house in the evening
Main conclusions
Social networks
– Social networks and local organisations are
potential vehicles for cultural participation
– Membership of a local organisation (socialisation)
– Matching with develop tasks (grandparents=
cultural transmission) Inter generational
Shortcomings
1. Difficulties for senior citizens organisations, to mobilise members
for projects of political or social interest at the local level
For, the realisation of a civilian centred policy not only requires
openness and transparency, but also a strong interaction with
the population.
13/04/2015
Shortcomings
2. The low commitment of the local authorities and senior citizens
in projects concerning older people
3. Lack of knowledge, training and structural support of senior
citizens
4. Lack of planning and management strategies
5. Insufficient knowledge of the possible barriers which can occur
in the development of senior citizens networks
13/04/2015
Pre requisites
Senior citizens are partners (local)
Looking for capacities
Co-creation (sense of ownership)
All phases in the project development
13/04/2015
Pre requisites
Facilitating development of senior citizens
network
Actively involving older people (passive
participation)
Process management – product orientation
13/04/2015