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Smart and Age-Friendly Cities in Romania: An Overview of Public Policy and Practice

Author

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  • Loredana Ivan

    (Department of Communication, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bulevardul Expoziţiei 30A, 012102 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Dorin Beu

    (Faculty of Building Services Engineering, Technical University of Cluj Napoca, Strada Memorandumului 28, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Joost van Hoof

    (Faculty of Social Work and Education, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Johanna Westerdijkplein 75, 2521 EN Den Haag, The Netherlands
    Institute of Spatial Management, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Geodesy, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, ul. Grunwaldzka 55, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland)

Abstract

The role of smart cities in order to improve older people’s quality of life, sustainability and opportunities, accessibility, mobility, and connectivity is increasing and acknowledged in public policy and private sector strategies in countries all over the world. Smart cities are one of the technological-driven initiatives that may help create an age-friendly city. Few research studies have analysed emerging countries in terms of their national strategies on smart or age-friendly cities. In this study, Romania which is predicted to become one of the most ageing countries in the European Union is used as a case study. Through document analysis, current initiatives at the local, regional, and national level addressing the issue of smart and age-friendly cities in Romania are investigated. In addition, a case study is presented to indicate possible ways of the smart cities initiatives to target and involve older adults. The role of different stakeholders is analysed in terms of whether initiatives are fragmentary or sustainable over time, and the importance of some key factors, such as private–public partnerships and transnational bodies. The results are discussed revealing the particularities of the smart cities initiatives in Romania in the time frame 2012–2020, which to date, have limited connection to the age-friendly cities agenda. Based on the findings, a set of recommendations are formulated to move the agenda forward.

Suggested Citation

  • Loredana Ivan & Dorin Beu & Joost van Hoof, 2020. "Smart and Age-Friendly Cities in Romania: An Overview of Public Policy and Practice," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-25, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:14:p:5202-:d:386526
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joost Van Hoof & Jan K. Kazak & Jolanta M. Perek-Białas & Sebastiaan T. M. Peek, 2018. "The Challenges of Urban Ageing: Making Cities Age-Friendly in Europe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-17, November.
    2. Robert G. Hollands, 2008. "Will the real smart city please stand up?," City, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(3), pages 303-320, December.
    3. van Hoof, Joost & Verkerk, Maarten J., 2013. "Developing an integrated design model incorporating technology philosophy for the design of healthcare environments: A case analysis of facilities for psychogeriatric and psychiatric care in The Nethe," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 1-13.
    4. Aldona Podgórniak-Krzykacz & Justyna Przywojska & Justyna Wiktorowicz, 2020. "Smart and Age-Friendly Communities in Poland. An Analysis of Institutional and Individual Conditions for a New Concept of Smart Development of Ageing Communities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-23, May.
    5. Hannah R. Marston & Joost van Hoof, 2019. "“Who Doesn’t Think about Technology When Designing Urban Environments for Older People?” A Case Study Approach to a Proposed Extension of the WHO’s Age-Friendly Cities Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-35, September.
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    Cited by:

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    4. Ioannis Vardopoulos & Maria Papoui-Evangelou & Bogdana Nosova & Luca Salvati, 2023. "Smart ‘Tourist Cities’ Revisited: Culture-Led Urban Sustainability and the Global Real Estate Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-26, February.
    5. Dezhi Li & Wentao Wang & Guanying Huang & Shenghua Zhou & Shiyao Zhu & Haibo Feng, 2023. "How to Enhance Citizens’ Sense of Gain in Smart Cities? A SWOT-AHP-TOWS Approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 165(3), pages 787-820, February.
    6. Laura Iosif & Cristina Teodora Preoteasa & Elena Preoteasa & Ana Ispas & Radu Ilinca & Cǎtǎlina Murariu-Mǎgureanu & Oana Elena Amza, 2021. "Oral Health Related Quality of Life and Prosthetic Status among Institutionalized Elderly from the Bucharest Area: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-10, June.
    7. Chunmei Zhang & Jun Yang, 2023. "Evaluation of the Quality of the Age-Friendly Environment in Liaoning Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-13, November.
    8. Liliya Eugenevna Ziganshina & Ekaterina V. Yudina & Liliya I. Talipova & Guzel N. Sharafutdinova & Rustem N. Khairullin, 2020. "Smart and Age-Friendly Cities in Russia: An Exploratory Study of Attitudes, Perceptions, Quality of Life and Health Information Needs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-15, December.
    9. Laurentiu-Nicolae PRICOPE & Valentin-Marian ANTOHI & Romeo-Victor IONESCU & Dragos-Sebastian CRISTEA & Alina MECA & Monica-Laura ZLATI, 2023. "Case Study of Smart City Development in Romania," Economics and Applied Informatics, "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, issue 2, pages 21-30.

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