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Promoting Self-Advocacy Among Older Adults: Lessons From Boston's Senior Civic Academy
Cindy N Bui1, Caitlin E Coyle1, Alison Freeman2
1University of Massachusetts Boston, USA.
Summary
The Senior Civic Academy (SCA) program empowers older adults through policy education and advocacy training. This initiative fosters greater civic engagement and political involvement among seniors in age-friendly communities.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Policy
- Community Development
Background:
- Civic engagement is crucial for age-friendly communities, with older adults often underrepresented in advocacy.
- Existing research primarily focuses on volunteering, overlooking political involvement and self-advocacy.
- The Age-Friendly Boston Initiative created the Senior Civic Academy (SCA) to address this gap.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a formative evaluation of the Senior Civic Academy (SCA) program.
- To assess the impact of the SCA on older adults' civic engagement and advocacy skills.
- To provide a replicable model for fostering senior advocacy in other communities.
Main Methods:
- Mixed-methods approach utilizing qualitative and quantitative data.
- Formative evaluation of the SCA program with 49 participants.
- Analysis of participant education on policy-making and advocacy training.
Main Results:
- The SCA program effectively educated older residents on policy processes.
- Participants gained advocacy training, enhancing their capacity for political involvement.
- The program demonstrated potential for increasing senior voices in local policy.
Conclusions:
- The Senior Civic Academy (SCA) is a viable model for promoting civic engagement and advocacy among older adults.
- Lessons learned can guide other communities in developing similar programs.
- Empowering seniors in advocacy contributes to more inclusive and responsive age-friendly communities.
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