Developing a community advisory board to combat ageism: Process and preliminary outcomes.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Community Psychology

Background:

• Ageism, defined as discrimination based on age, is a pervasive social issue negatively impacting healthy aging.
• Existing strategies to combat ageism lack a unified approach, highlighting the need for innovative solutions.
• Underserved and minoritized communities often face unique challenges related to ageism that require tailored interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and illustrate a community-based participatory research (CBPR) model for addressing and reframing community-level ageism.
• To detail the formation, structure, and activities of a Community Advisory Board (CAB) as a practical example of CBPR in action.
• To outline the development of a community-led toolkit aimed at combating ageism in diverse cultural contexts.

Main Methods:

• Establishing a Community Advisory Board (CAB) comprising diverse community members and academic researchers.
• Implementing a CBPR framework to co-create resources and strategies for combating ageism.
• Documenting the formation, operational processes, and preliminary outcomes of the CAB's anti-ageism initiative.

Main Results:

• Successful formation and operation of the CHAI CAB, demonstrating a viable community-academic partnership model.
• Development of a community-led toolkit with resources to combat ageism, tailored for diverse cultural communities.
• Preliminary outcomes indicate the potential for empowering older adults and promoting health equity through this CBPR approach.

Conclusions:

• CBPR provides an effective framework for addressing ageism at the community level, particularly in diverse and underserved populations.
• The CHAI CAB model offers a replicable and adaptable strategy for building partnerships to combat ageism.
• This approach supports geriatric practitioners, educators, and future aging professionals in promoting health equity and empowering older adults.