Using the age-friendly inventory and campus climate survey at a Canadian university: process and outcomes.

Abstract

The Age-Friendly Inventory and Campus Climate Survey (ICCS) is the most comprehensive instrument available to empirically examine age inclusivity in higher education. While widely used in the United States, it had not been used in Canada. The purpose of this article is to share our experience and outcomes from using the ICCS at a Canadian post-secondary institution - the University of Calgary. The inventory was completed by 10 administrators to determine the presence of age-friendly campus practices and environmental features at the university. The survey was completed by 178 faculty, 608 staff, and 1,167 students to understand their awareness and perceptions of age-friendly practices and features covered by the inventory. We found that the ICCS was transferrable to our national and institutional context with minor modifications. Some challenges were experienced in the administration of the instrument, particularly the survey due to administrative complexities in conducting a survey at a large institution. The results of the assessment indicated that our university is moderately age-friendly, but most survey participants were unaware of its age-friendly elements. The findings from this baseline assessment provided valuable insights that will inform the development of an action plan to enhance the University of Calgary's age-friendliness.