Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: A Team-Based Approach to Achieving AFU Designation

TL;DR

A university formed a diverse team to apply for Age-Friendly University designation, leading to successful collaboration and long-term efforts.

Contribution

The novel approach of using a diverse, team-based structure to achieve AFU designation is highlighted.

Findings

A diverse team successfully submitted an AFU application using effective team principles.

The team-based approach clarified future university-community collaboration.

The method led to both short-term and sustained systems-level AFU efforts.

Abstract

The university created an Age-Friendly University (AFU) application team representative of the diverse services and stakeholders that assess, evaluate, support, and create Age-Friendly university and community opportunities. After creating a diverse team, reviewing AFU principles, and establishing goals and team agreements, university staff, faculty, and community partners effectively and swiftly contributed to the AFU application using principles of effective teams. The team submitted a successful application based on past and future Age-Friendly collaborative efforts. Additionally, the team-based, goal-oriented, principle-driven approach clarified future collaboration between the university and the community. Establishing a diverse application team resulted in short-term and sustained systems-level AFU efforts.