This thesis explores the topic of seniors' participation in community planning. More
specifically, it addresses the importance and relevance of including seniors, seniors' issues, and
seniors' perspectives in community planning efforts, the circumstances under which seniors are
most likely to become involved in community planning efforts, and guidelines for a practical
process to encourage effective seniors' participation in developing local community plans. To
address these issues, the thesis includes a review of the planning literature on public
participation, a brief summary of relevant trends in gerontological literature, and an examination
of the small amount of literature on seniors' participation in community planning. Two case
studies in the District of North Vancouver, BC, "Seniors and the Lynn Valley Plan" and the
"Seymour Local Plan Seniors' Forums," provide an example of a particular seniors' outreach
process. This process is analysed for its effectiveness in including seniors, seniors' issues, and
seniors' perspectives in local community plans and then factors influencing effectiveness are
examined.
This thesis reveals that the inclusion of seniors, seniors' issues, and seniors' perspectives
engenders more accurate planning, increases acceptance of community plans, exercises
democratic rights and duties, and promotes self-sufficiency and self-worth in individuals and
communities. Seniors are most likely to become involved in community planning efforts when
they feel included: when they feel they are fulfilling a meaningful role, when certain emotional
needs are satisfied by the planning process, and when they are able to take advantage of
participation opportunities, that is, when aging-related needs are taken into account in designing
and implementing planning processes. The process employed in the two cases studied, with
certain suggested improvements, is found to be an appropriate and effective method of including
seniors, their issues, and their perspectives in community planning efforts.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/11831 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Rowe-Evans, Elinor Annwen |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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