Citation

Liu LC, Kuo HW, Lin CC. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018; 15(10): e15102314.

Affiliation

Health Promotion Section, Public Health Bureau, Taitung County, Taitung 95043, Taiwan. jill480730@yahoo.com.tw.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, MDPI: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)

DOI

10.3390/ijerph15102314

PMID

30347884

Abstract

The World Health Organization has promoted age-friendly city (AFC) projects in response to the aging population. Taiwan has also promoted AFC policies. This study was conducted in Taitung County, where 15.37% of the population is older adults in Taiwan. The aim was to understand the perceptions of older adults and service providers with regard to the current status of AFC policies to influence future policies. The participants of this study were older adults and service providers in various regions of Taitung. Quantitative questionnaires were completed by older adults and qualitative interviews were held with focus groups. The older adults were the most satisfied with the AFC domains of "respect and social inclusion" and "community and health services", and the least satisfied with "transportation" and "civic participation and employment". Homogeneity existed between the older adults' satisfaction levels in different regions and the service providers' opinions; however, there were notable differences between them. Both economic development and the ethnicity of groups in different regions are influential factors that determine the success of government policies. In promoting AFC policies, local governments should consider their applicability based on local conditions and resources to meet the needs of the aging population in rural areas.

Language: en

Keywords

Taitung County; age-friendly city (AFC); older adults (demanders); service providers