Towards an Age-Friendly University: Insights from Culturally Diverse Community-Dwelling Older Adults
The project, titled “Towards an Age-Friendly University: Insights from Culturally Diverse Community-Dwelling Older Adults,” is a collaborative initiative aimed at enhancing the inclusivity and accessibility of the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Vancouver campus for older adults. Recognizing the importance of lifelong learning and intergenerational exchange, this project seeks to address the specific challenges that older adults face within the university environment.
By engaging twenty-five older adults from diverse backgrounds— including Indigenous groups, people of colour, LGBTQIA2S+, and individuals with varying physical and mental capacities— the project aims to identify barriers to accessibility and develop strategies to overcome them. The initiative is structured around a series of guided audit walks and discussions, where participants assess the campus’s age-friendliness and provide feedback on its current principles and infrastructure.
The findings from these activities will be used to create a comprehensive toolkit that outlines priorities and recommendations for fostering an age-friendly university. Additionally, a gallery exhibition will be organized to share the insights gained from the project with the broader UBC community, including students, staff, and faculty. Through this initiative, the project seeks to cultivate a university environment that supports and values older adults, ensuring that they can fully participate in and contribute to the academic community.
Why We Focus on Walking
Walking is a fundamental activity that allows older adults to engage directly with their environment, making it an ideal method for assessing the age-friendliness of a university campus. Through guided audit walks across key areas of the UBC Vancouver campus, participants can provide real-time feedback on the physical and social barriers they encounter. This approach not only offers valuable insights into the day-to-day challenges faced by older adults but also empowers them to contribute to the development of more accessible and welcoming spaces.
Who is involved
The project involves a community-university collaboration including: student volunteers, patient-engagement partners, faculty members, and twenty-five community-dwelling older adults from diverse backgrounds in Metro Vancouver. The participants represent a wide range of identities, including Indigenous groups, people of colour, LGBTQIA2S+, and individuals with different physical and mental capacities. By bringing together these voices, the project ensures that the strategies developed are inclusive and reflective of the needs of the broader community.
Our Team
Joey Wong, Mario Gregorio, Albin Soni, Jason Fu, Paulina Santaella, and Ilan Meghelli supported by Dr. Lillian Hung.
Timeline
The project spans from January to August, with preparation and recruitment taking place in the early months. The core activities, including audit walks with participants, are scheduled for June and July. The project will culminate in a gallery exhibition and the creation of a toolkit, both of which will be completed by the end of August.
Acknowledgements
This project is made possible through the support of the University of British Columbia and the dedication of the community-dwelling older adults who generously shared their time and insights. Special thanks to the UBC Equity and Inclusion Office for their collaboration, as well as to the student volunteers whose contributions were invaluable to the success of this initiative. All of these contributions have been instrumental in shaping a more inclusive and age-friendly university environment.
