Mario Paris

How Can a Research Program Enhance a Policy? AFC-Quebec Governance and Evaluation Opportunities

This chapter outlines the progress of the AFC-QC projects, as well as a few lessons learned both in developing and evaluating the program. In order to do this, we first describe the program’s approach since the beginning of AFC-QC with 7 pilot sites, between 2008 and 2013, in line with the work of the WHO (2007a), until the introduction of an AFC governmental program in 2009. Since then, more than 750 municipalities in Quebec have joined the AFC-QC. Then we demonstrate how this governmental program was jointly built with the planning research over a period of 8 years (2007–2015). The research team, under the direction of Suzanne Garon, has been mandated for the evaluation of 7 pilot projects. Designed on the basis of previous experiences, two other projects are in progress (2014–2017), allowing the use of action-research methods that pave the way to learning process and co-construction. Finally, we explain how the various evaluation models reflect the positioning of the evaluator who acts in the interests of consistency with the project guidelines. Stakeholders continue to evolve (government, communities, trainers, researchers and seniors) in the light of knowledge accumulated over the years and of shared experience in changing contexts.

Active and Healthy Ageing: Blended Models and Common Challenges in Supporting Age-Friendly Cities and Communities

This chapter considers the importance of identifying the origins of active and healthy ageing behind Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCC). After discussing some general trends and definitions within the fields of active and healthy ageing and building on some overall limitations, this chapter (re)introduces empowerment as a key element of active and healthy ageing. By focusing on two central elements of a theoretically grounded yet practically oriented vision of empowerment—i.e. a multilevel perspective and an insider’s view—a life course perspective on active and healthy ageing is proposed in which the merits of both notions are integrated. By placing a well-considered vision on empowerment at the centre of the argument, the frequent criticism on active and healthy-ageing discourses being too centred on individual responsibilities can be overcome. Potentials of this perspective for AFCC are discussed.