The Participation of Older People in the Concept and Design Phases of Housing in The Netherlands: A Theoretical Overview
Joost van Hoof,
Katja M. Rusinovic,
Zsuzsu. K. C. T. Tavy,
Rudy F. M. van den Hoven,
Jeroen Dikken,
Suzan van der Pas,
Hanneke Kruize,
Simone R. de Bruin,
Marianne E. van Bochove
Affiliations
Joost van Hoof
Faculty of Social Work & Education, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Johanna Westerdijkplein 75, 2521 EN Den Haag, The Netherlands
Katja M. Rusinovic
Faculty of Public Management, Law & Safety, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, JohannaWesterdijkplein 75, 2521 EN Den Haag, The Netherlands
Zsuzsu. K. C. T. Tavy
Faculty of Social Work & Education, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Johanna Westerdijkplein 75, 2521 EN Den Haag, The Netherlands
Rudy F. M. van den Hoven
Faculty of Social Work & Education, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Johanna Westerdijkplein 75, 2521 EN Den Haag, The Netherlands
Jeroen Dikken
Faculty of Social Work & Education, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Johanna Westerdijkplein 75, 2521 EN Den Haag, The Netherlands
Suzan van der Pas
Faculty of Social Work & Applied Psychology, University of Applied Sciences Leiden, Zernikedreef 11, 2333 CK Leiden, The Netherlands
Hanneke Kruize
Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Health, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
Simone R. de Bruin
Research Group Living Well with Dementia, Department of Health and Wellbeing, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Campus 2, 8017 CA Zwolle, The Netherlands
Marianne E. van Bochove
Faculty of Public Management, Law & Safety, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, JohannaWesterdijkplein 75, 2521 EN Den Haag, The Netherlands
In the Netherlands, there is a growing need for collective housing for older people to bridge the gap between ageing-in-place and institutional care facilities. Participation of older people in the concept and design phases is important to tune the market supply to the needs of (future) residents, yet social entrepreneurs find it challenging to involve older people. This commentary explores various ways older people can participate in the development of new housing initiatives. The ladder of citizen participation is applied to explore different roles that (future) residents could play with levels of influence varying from non-participation to citizen power. Considerations for meaningful participation are discussed, in order to show how collaborations can be formed between (future) residents and decision makers.