Enhancing Collaboration and Cooperation Among Organizations to Develop Age-Friendly Communities

Establishing collaborative networks of organizations, called systems of care or age-friendly communities, can help ensure that older adults receive services that meet their holistic needs. Collaboration is a function of the... [ view full abstract ]

Establishing collaborative networks of organizations, called systems of care or age-friendly communities, can help ensure that older adults receive services that meet their holistic needs. Collaboration is a function of the structural features of organizations, perceptions of environmental pressures, and attitudes of organizational leaders. Drawing on interviews with 48 leaders of organizations providing services to older adults, this study investigates how organizations collaborate and cooperate with each other to enhance programs for older adults. This study also examines how structural features of organizations and their perceptions of environmental uncertainties facilitate or hinder their collaboration and cooperation with other organizations.