Page 30 - IJPS-10-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Age-friendly cities and lifelong learning

4.2.2. Funding and influence are relegated for others to undertake. While ongoing

The group receives support in kind from the Hamilton dialog is essential, the goals and actions for the themes
City Council (through a Community Development need mechanisms for evaluation and accountability. It
secretariat). However, there is no direct funding from the is incumbent of the group to maximize the aspiration of
local government. It is prudent to establish a firm financial improving the lives of local seniors and this goal is actually
base – for instance, from research sources – to provide a met by actions and accountability. Hence, prioritization of
sharper edge to our activities. In effect, the Group relies on actions linked explicitly to the key issues for local citizens
influencing “significant others” (individuals and agencies is important so that achievements can be monitored.
aligned to the mission of the AFHG) to carry out its The literature review has emphasized the alignment
agenda. However, the Group’s indirect influence may be of conceptual components of age-friendly communities,
“too soft” to effect significant changes. especially in urban environments, and lifelong learning
themes. In both the theoretical strands of age-friendly cities
4.3. Cultural/Ethnic inclusion
and lifelong learning, the fundamentals of active aging and
The Group requires Māori (indigenous), Pasifika, and Asian learning in place, the autonomy of individuals to exercise
representation to ensure its ethnic diversity. In Hamilton, choice in work and leisure, the contribution of seniors to
Māori constitute 8.8% of the population aged 65+ and 6.5% civil society, and the need to include the marginalized in
across New Zealand; Pasifika 2.4% in Hamilton and 2.8% society are to the fore. The nine themes of the Age-Friendly
in New Zealand; and Asian 8.6% in Hamilton and 6.7% Hamilton Plan 2021 – 2024 Hamilton Age-Friendly Plan
in New Zealand, according to the 2018 Census (Hamilton 2021 – 2024 are fully aligned with the four themes of lifelong
City Council, 2021). The Rauawaawa Kaumātua Trust, learning to present a powerful strategy for influencing the
a holistic agency, whose function is to sustain the well- well-being of seniors not just in the city of Hamilton but
being of Māori elders, has its director as a member of this elsewhere too. Socially inspired themes from the WHO
Group and is well-known nationally and internationally framework such as social participation, respect and social
for its considerable work. Yet, the Group needs to commit inclusion, communication and information echo the
further to cultural inclusion such as employing more te lifelong learning impetus for personal development, active
reo (Māori language, an official language in New Zealand) citizenship and social inclusion. From the perspective of
in its communications as well as in recruiting an Asian the built environment (van Hoof et al., 2021), the WHO
representative. At present, older Pasifika adults are poorly theme of Transport and Mobility requires an economic
served in social and health services, and this issue needs base to go forward; its implementation affects seniors,
remedying. especially those with significant disabilities, in terms
4.4. Marketing of building social capital; active engagement of elders
requires ease of mobility; and without effective transport,
Despite the Hamilton City Council underpinning the (older) people can be excluded from participation in
work of this volunteer group, the work itself is not well societal affairs. The interconnectedness of the physical and
known amid the public. Communication across agencies the social environments is undeniable.
and among individuals working for and with seniors needs
greater enhancement. Discussions are currently being held 5. Concluding remarks
about inclusion of the work of the group in a regular page The challenges facing the AFHG are intrinsically
of a well-known public magazine focusing on the well-
being of older adults and to bring to Hamilton seniors’ inward- and outward-looking, but the need to address
attention the opportunities for access to health services, these challenges is important to achieve the goals of
public events, and the like. It cannot be assumed that AFHG. While it is inappropriate to extrapolate from this
older people have confidence and/or competence in digital one case study to the hundreds of other kindred groups
concerned with establishing age-friendly environments
literacy (Boulton-Lewis, 2012) so some “old-fashioned”
methods in publicity still need to be maintained while across the globe, this case does provide some insights into
simultaneously upgrading technological literacy of seniors. what it really means to implement goals that are inspired
by both global and local priorities.
4.5. Action more than words The themes from the Plan and the WHO paradigm

The plan provides a very good basis for identifying and readily align to the four lifelong learning themes: economic
prioritizing activities to improve the well-being of seniors imperatives, personal development, active citizenship, and
in Hamilton. However, there is a distinct danger that social inclusion/exclusion, which are very much interlinked
the group becomes a continuing “talkfest” and actions and can be colloquially known as “close cousins” in this

Volume 10 Issue 2 (2024) 24 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.380