Planning for an Older and Digital Future: Opportunities and Challenges of Age-Friendly E-Participation in China

ABSTRACT

The increasing prevalence of e-participation in planning processes risks precluding older adult engagement. Our study calls upon a strategic e-participation framework to explore the opportunities and challenges of older adult e-participation in the most rapidly ageing and digitizing country on earth: China. Through thematic coding of interviews (n = 13) and statistical analysis of questionnaires (n = 120), we find that older age is not inherently a barrier to e-participation. Older adults are willing and interested in certain functions of e-participation, but more attention is needed on age-friendly accessibility, promotion, and design.

KEYWORDS:

• Age-friendly
• e-participation
• older adult
• participatory planning
• China

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Xiaoyu Chen

Xiaoyu Chen is an Urban Planner at Zhuhai Taiji Architectural Design Engineering. She holds an MSc in Sustainability, Planning and Environmental Policy from Cardiff University.

Maxwell Hartt

Maxwell Hartt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and Planning at Queen’s University. His research focuses on the intersection of planning and demographic change, with specific projects on shrinking and aging cities.