The application of social innovation as it relates to older people and the implications for future policymaking: A scoping review.

Abstract

Social innovation has received increasing attention in recent decades (Agostini et al. 2017). This article considers how the concept has been applied to the issue of ageing and what can be learnt about effective policy responses. The acknowledged lack of understanding generally about the concept makes it timely to undertake a scoping review of the current evidence from social innovation projects associated with older people. A scoping review is considered appropriate where there is a need to 'identify and analyse knowledge gaps” (Munn et al 2018 p2). The findings from a scoping review indicate that as yet the concept of social innovation is not fully defined. However, it has wide-spread appeal across a diverse range of disciplines as a potential means of generating innovative policy responses. A key argument identified is the need to change the public’s perceptions of ageing and devise public policies that encourage and nurture age-friendly communities. In summation although social innovation has the potential to act as a policy driver, to be effective, it is necessary to devise robust strategies to ensure full user-engagement and active involvement of communities. Therefore, it is the process of delivery that needs urgent attention in any future research into social innovation.