Strategies for Updating Social Participation Services: The Case of Baby Boomers in Quebec and Spain

TL;DR

This paper explores how to update social participation services to better meet the needs of baby boomers in Quebec and Spain.

Contribution

The study identifies three novel strategies for adapting services to promote meaningful social participation among baby boomers.

Findings

Intragenerational diversity should be considered through an intersectional lens.

Services should be organized around interests and values, not just age.

Flexible services that allow control over time increase participation motivation.

Abstract

Services designed to promote social participation as a key factor in healthy aging are struggling to meet the expectations of a large generation of older adults, the baby boomer, which in 2021 represented more than a quarter (26%) of the population in both Quebec (Canada) and Spain. Despite the challenge of adapting services to the participation needs of this cohort, little is known about the strategies and changes required to make these services attractive to them. This presentation aims to report results of two qualitative studies exploring the strategies to update services aimed to promote social participation of baby boomer generation. These two studies were both developed in Spain and Quebec with 53 individuals and 12 group interviews, involving a total of 107 baby boomers and 52 community representatives. Three strategies were identified: 1) the consideration of intragenerational diversity from an intersectional perspective, according to criteria such as life trajectories, autonomy levels, identity factors, and daily environment; 2) the organization of services and participation beyond the age criterion, i.e., by interests, needs, common values in which a real interaction between generations is favored; 3) the promotion of services flexible where baby boomers have control over their time, i.e., services friendly to conciliation (caring for oneself, others, continuing professional life, etc.). The services will respond to meaningful participation for members of this generation according to the willingness of decision-makers and service designers to implement these strategies. Enhancing these services leads to greater motivation to participate and responsible use of community resources.