Social Innovation and Adaptability for Ageing in Place in Cities: A Comparison Between France and Japan

Abstract

AbstractFacing an ageing population, governments must respond to new challenges. Socio-demographic evolutions have highlighted the diversity of appropriations of our living environments and the difficulties faced by the most vulnerable. The need for adaptation is now known and new solutions must be found. In Japan, with a “community-based integrated care system”, the government is trying to promote new practices of solidarity in neighbourhood communities in order to enable older people to age in place. This scheme is based on the idea of having inclusive environments where all the care needed by the population can be provided within the neighbourhood. The system has been developed in such a way that it gives a lot of autonomy to local governments and stakeholders. It also enables social innovation which will be a key component to apprehend how support for the elderly is provided according to the localities’ own resources. In France, the notion of community support has yet to develop despite an ageing population. Support is mostly provided by public authorities. Nevertheless, citizens are taking action and socially innovative initiatives are being developed. The demonstration will be illustrated by a comparison between France and Japan around the question: how can enable social innovation help the creation of inclusive neighbourhood communities?The findings show the importance of the social, cultural, economic and political context from which social innovation emerges. In Japan and France, social innovation appears as a response to the challenges of an ageing population. From the perspective of ageing, one of the main challenges in urban design is to include elderly people in the process. Social innovation, led by elderly people helps recognise their value and their human rights. Fostering the emergence of social innovations appears as a solution to develop inclusivity and ageing in place.KeywordsSocial innovationAgeingFranceJapanCities