title: Place integration through efforts to support healthy aging in resource frontier communities: the role of voluntary sector leadership.
abstract: Resource-dependent communities in hinterland regions of Australia, Canada and elsewhere are rapidly aging, yet many features that distinguish them (e.g., geographic remoteness, small populations, infrastructure built with younger persons in mind) also pose significant challenges for healthy aging. These challenges can lead to substantial gaps in access to formal health and social services, with negative implications for older residents aging-in-place and the development aspirations of resource frontier communities. In this paper, we explore the efforts of voluntary sector leaders to transform resource communities into more livable and supportive places for older adults. We offer a case study of two small towns in Canada׳s aging resource frontier; one forestry-dependent and the other dependent on coal mining. Our findings suggest that place integration develops through volunteer work and explains how voluntarism works as both a process and outcome of 'placemaking'. We argue that greater attention to place integration is needed to bring into focus the transformative potential of the voluntary sector in creating supportive and sustainable environments for healthy aging.
authors.affiliation: Geography Program, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, Canada V2N 4Z9. Electronic address: hanlon@unbc.ca.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hanlon
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography, Trent University, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography, University of Guelph, Canada.
authors.forename: Alun E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Community Development Institute, University of Northern British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ryser
authors.affiliation: Geography Program, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, Canada V2N 4Z9.
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Halseth
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012424:Rural Population; D012946:Social Welfare; D014837:Voluntary Health Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration; D014838:Volunteers
keywords: Canada; Healthy aging; Place integration; Resource-dependent communities; Voluntarism