Wijs Grijs in Ghent, an inspirational journey

The Wijs Grijs in Ghent project brought together Ghent University researchers, the City of Ghent and older people in a co-creative process with one central objective: healthy and happy ageing in an age-friendly city. What began as a valorisation process involving six interlinked research projects within the GRAY consortium grew into an inspiring interaction between science, policy and experiential knowledge.

Preliminary phase: collaboration as a foundation

During the preparatory phase, discussions took place between GRAY researchers and key partners such as the City of Ghent, OKRA and the Flemish Institute for Healthy Living. This collaboration gave rise to the idea of shifting the focus from policy structures to the elderly themselves. The City of Ghent, which had just completed a participatory process on healthy ageing, helped to shape the project theme: “Ageing through Rose-Coloured Glasses”, a positive discourse on ageing, with an emphasis on what older people themselves can do.
In addition, a white paper on future priorities in healthy ageing was drawn up in collaboration with GRAY UGent researchers, and current insights from the field were compiled. The preliminary phase also led to a number of derivative, thematic projects and confirmed the need for implementation research.

High point: the Inspiration Day

On 28 April 2023, the key moment took place: the Inspiration Day in De Krook, with 130 participants, a mix of elderly people from Ghent and relevant stakeholders. The day was characterised by co-creation: working groups from the preliminary phase had designed the programme. In addition to presentations and workshops, insights were shared, discussions were held and connections were made. The programme booklet can still be consulted via this link and some atmospheric images can be found at: Event: Ageing through Rose-Coloured Glasses (past) | GRAY. This day not only provided inspiration, but also laid the foundation for lasting commitment and change.

Follow-up: from inspiration to impact

Although no formal follow-up meetings took place, a conscious decision was made to only meet when there were specific needs or questions. Questions from frontline professionals at the City of Ghent, for example, resulted in new GRAY UGent initiatives such as a training course on mental health in older people (see link), and projects on climate sensitivity, heat stress and vulnerability in older people.
The importance of the physical environment also remained a priority. For example, a recent fact sheet showed that co-creation with (older) local residents in park renovations can lead to a threefold increase in the number of visitors. This finding not only underlines the impact of the environment on health, but also confirms the need to actively involve older people in urban redevelopment.

Conclusion

Wijs Grijs in Ghent was more than a project; it was a lever for sustainable cooperation and knowledge sharing. Its strength lay in the interplay between science, policy and the elderly themselves. Based on a shared ambition – positive and active ageing in a city that moves with you – new networks, insights and policy impulses emerged.