911³Ô¹Ï

By Jean Paul Ramírez Echavarría and Atiya Mahmood

On June 23, amidst one of the most intense heatwaves Europe has experienced this century, with temperatures reaching 34°C, scholars, researchers, practitioners, community partners, and older adults from across Manchester and around the world gathered for the seminar, Urban Ageing in the Margins: Global Perspectives.

The one-day event explored how ageing is shaped by inequality, marginalisation, and place, while highlighting how innovative approaches developed across different geographical, political, and socioeconomic contexts can inform practice internationally to support healthy ageing and well-being.

Representing the Aging in the Right Place (AIRP) project, , AIRP Co-Investigator and Vancouver Team Lead, presented findings on the use of arts-based methods—particularly photovoice and digital storytelling—as central components of the AIRP research. Her presentation demonstrated how these methods foster co-creation and participatory research by centring the voices and lived experiences of older adults with experiences of homelessness.

The morning seminar showcased diverse international perspectives on aging and marginalisation. (University of California, San Francisco) presented work on co-production initiatives in California, including participant-led photovoice projects with older adults living in single room occupancy hotels. (Universidad de Playa Ancha, Chile) discussed interdisciplinary research on aging in Valparaíso, examining inequalities through a critical gerontology lens. Dr. Laurent Reyes (University of California, Berkeley) explored civic participation among marginalised older adults in the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly Black and Latinx communities, drawing on visual and qualitative methods to amplify participants' perspectives.

The seminar also featured (911³Ô¹Ï, Canada), who presented the DemSCAPE project and its efforts to understand the conditions that support dementia-inclusive communities, exploring what works, what does not, and how research can be translated into practical strategies that strengthen community engagement and inclusion. Finally, (University of Auckland, New Zealand) shared the development of a newly established co-created aging research centre and its collaborative model for advancing community-engaged research.

Dr. Mahmood's presentation highlighted findings from AIRP's partnerships with and in Vancouver, drawing on data from 36 participants across both housing providers. She emphasised the intentional use of photovoice and digital storytelling as methods capable of generating rich, nuanced understandings of participants lived experiences while simultaneously empowering participants throughout the research process.

Rather than simply collecting data, these arts-based methods positioned older adults as active collaborators who shaped how their stories were told. Participants retained agency over their narratives, allowing them to document their own realities in ways that traditional research methods often cannot.

Photographs and digital stories enabled participants to communicate experiences of aging and homelessness that are often difficult to express through words alone. They reflected on both past and present, illustrating the profound life changes they had experienced while highlighting the emotional significance of places, relationships, and care environments. These methods revealed how place and social connections shape identity, belonging, and people's ability to age in the right place.

Importantly, the research process itself became meaningful. Taking photographs, reflecting on their experiences, and sharing their stories fostered agency, pride, and emotional resonance that extended beyond data collection, transforming participants from research subjects into co-creators of knowledge.

Following the seminar, participants gathered for afternoon roundtable discussions. Seeking relief from the summer heat, several groups met outdoors across the university campus in the shade while discussing how research evidence can better inform age-friendly policy and practice. Participants shared insights from their own research, policy work, and lived experiences, creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue across disciplines and countries.

Ultimately, the roundtable discussions reinforced the importance of international collaboration in addressing the complex challenges of aging. As societies become increasingly interconnected and many of the issues facing older adults transcend national borders, collaborative and interdisciplinary research will be essential to bridge knowledge gaps and translate innovative practices across diverse contexts.

The seminar highlighted the value of international collaboration and reaffirmed AIRP's commitment to advancing participatory, community-engaged research that supports older adults in ageing in the right place.