Research On Public Participation Of Community Elderly Groups

With the increase of the elderly population in our country,the aging population problem has expanded from domestic to a social issue.The concept of positive aging provides a feasible way to solve this issue.The word " positive" here not only means that the elderly taking part in physical activities and labor working,but also their constantly participation in social,economic,cultural,spiritual and civic affairs in accordance with their needs,wish and abilities.This concept corresponds to the requirements of community autonomy in China's basic-level society administration.The construction of an efficient and complete public participation mechanisms for elderly groups in the community would definitely be an effective measure to resolve the aging population problem of China and improve the basic-level society administrating system.The public participation model of the elderly group in the Nanjing Gong Jian Fang community builds the "Activity + Deliberative Platforms" as the dual cores of the "Gong Jian Fang Model",through three initiatives,naming "Breaking Down the Barrier Between Homes","Breaking Down the Community Barrier","Building the Public Life Platform" a four-in-one mechanisms which includes "multi-channel sources of resource support mechanism,innovative and pluralistic organizational incubation mechanism,governance of the integration of public participation mechanism and positive and harmonious value leadership mechanism".Under the operation of this model,the enthusiasm for the elderly groups of the Gong Jian Fang Community to participate in public affairs has gradually increased.Besides,the elderly groups have played an increasingly prominent role in community public affairs.Judging from the research results from other scholars who have been studying the same topic,many progresses have been made in the study of aspects including active aging,public affairs participation and community governance.However,some of these studies are based on the theoretical induction of foreign experience,others being over-theoretical top-level system design.Therefore,the actual practice of this design is very few.The Gong Jian Fang Community model serves as a realistic case for the practice of basic-level society administrating participation and active aging concept in China to fill the gap.Based on the operation of the public participation mechanism of the elderly group in Gong Jian Fang Community,and through analysis and research of the motion generated by the discussion platform and the local conditions of the community,this paper finds that there are still many limitations in the existing model,such as " noninstitutionalized steady state,incomplete public goods supply mechanism,unorganized operation of aging service organizations,undiminished concept of negative aging " and so on.On this basis,the paper puts forward measures by optimizing the design of the government-led pension system and the construction of the public participation system,promoting the perfection of community public service functions and the guidance of the public participation mechanism,introducing specialized social organizations based on demand,stimulating participation initiative with the promotion of the transformation of the elderly's own concept as a fulcrum,and actively creating a social atmosphere of " respecting the elderly for the elderly",to further improve the public participation mode of the elderly group in Gong Jian Fang Community,which will provide some inspirations and reference for the solution of the aging problem in China,the construction of the basic-level society administration system and the perfection of the community public participation mode.