Researching age-friendly communities. Stories from older people as co-investigators.

This guide evaluates the participatory dimension of a study that explored the age-friendliness of three wards in the city of Manchester. The purpose of the study was to examine opportunities and constraints for older people living in urban environments with a view to improving their experience of living in the city. It builds on policy priorities in the context of Manchester City Council being an active member of the World Health Organization’s Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities. The focus of this participatory guide is on the experiences of those involved as co-investigators in the research project. Building on the co-researchers’ experiences of being involved in this project, it will provide new insights into the required conditions, opportunities and challenges of working with older people in developing research and action plans.