PAAR-Net Hosts First International Knowledge Exchange Event on Cultural Disadvantage, Age-Friendly Cities, and Social Inclusion

On 6 September 2024, PAAR-Net successfully held its first International Knowledge Exchange Event at Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, with hybrid participation via Zoom. The event, hosted by Working Group 2, brought together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and older co-creators to exchange insights on three core themes: cultural disadvantage, age-friendly cities and communities, and social inclusion—all explored through the lens of participatory approaches with older adults.

The session began with opening remarks by Dr Anna Urbaniak, Chair of PAAR-net, and Dr Anna Wanka, Vice Chair, who provided an overview of the Action’s goals. Prof. Sabine Andresen, Vice-Rector of Goethe University, welcomed participants, highlighting the university’s 110th anniversary and its commitment to public participation in research.

A powerful intervention from Halina Figon, representing the Older Co-creators Forum and the Elders Council of Newcastle (UK), emphasized the importance of advocacy and visibility for older adults, and the role of lived experience in shaping inclusive innovation.

Key Highlights from the Thematic Sessions:

🔹 Cultural Disadvantage

Speakers Claudio Bolzman (National Swiss Forum on Aging and Migration) and Charles Waldegrave (Family Centre, New Zealand) shed light on the structural and epistemic exclusion of older migrants and indigenous elders. From the concept of the “exhausted migrant effect” to culturally specific well-being indicators for Māori elders, this session challenged mainstream approaches to inclusion.

🔹 Age-Friendly Cities and Communities

Willeke van Staalduinen (AFEdemy, Netherlands) and Christa Möller-Metzger (European Green Seniors, Germany) presented inspiring examples of local-level co-creation and diagnostics for building age-friendly environments. They also shared lessons on how language and framing influence participation and impact.

🔹 Social Inclusion

Damien Vanneste (Catholic University of Lille) and Wouter de Tavernier (OECD) examined inclusive urban planning and the gaps in policy evaluation methods. Their insights stressed the importance of lived experience and the role of local networks in shaping responsive, inclusive policies.

Across all sessions, discussions underscored the necessity of recognizing experiential knowledge, bridging local and global scales, and redefining inclusion through participatory research. The event served as a platform to build connections and deepen cross-sectoral dialogue among COST Action members and external stakeholders alike.

This milestone event not only showcased PAAR-Net’s commitment to transformative ageing research but also marked a step forward in co-creating knowledge with older adults across Europe and beyond.