Project | Ageing well in place – A matter of rights and power: A policy toolkit for inspiring meaningful, inclusive, and collaborative action |
Host: | Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) |
Main Supervisor: | Prof. Dr. Liesbeth De Donder |
Co-Supervisors: | Prof. Marja Aartsen, Oslomet, and Prof. Lucie Vidovićová, Masaryk University |
I am a social policy specialist and researcher from the Dominican Republic. I earned my master’s degree in International Economics from Carleton University (Canada) in 2009, a graduate certificate in Human Development from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in 2006, and a bachelor’s degrees in Economics as well as Business Administration from Worcester State University (Massachusetts, U.S) in 2004.
My work in the U.S., Canada, and mostly my home country and Latin America has been motivated by a strong commitment to social justice and to promoting social transformations through rights-based policy development. Over 18 years in multidisciplinary practice and some in policy-oriented research, I supported governments, communities and international agencies in the development of innovative social and economic inclusion policies, programmes and projects, some of which directly engaged vulnerabilised older persons. My work has added a critical perspective in diverse international teams, including collaborations with the UNDP, the World Bank, the Interamerican Development Bank, the French Agency of International Development, the United States Agency for International Development, and the Collaborative African Budget Reform Initiative. I also taught at universities and schools in the U.S. and the Dominican Republic.
I am motivated to pursue doctoral research as part of the HOMeAGE network to expand the impact of my work and contribute to advancing key knowledge needed to inform, inspire, and shape critical policy decisions to promote social justice in our ageing world.
Research interests:
Title of Project: Ageing in place as a matter of rights: How can human rights and decolonial perspectives enhance our approach to ageing in place?
Aim of Project: My research examines the role human rights and decolonial perspectives could play in enhancing our understanding of ageing in place and related policy and advocacy efforts. The aim is to develop a conceptual framework for ageing in place based on a human rights approach and incorporating a decolonial perspective.
Short description/abstract:
Gerontological debates highlight shortcomings of ‘ageing in place’ as both concept and policy ideal, including its failure to spur policy change to address rising inequalities and exclusion restricting older persons’ choices in their homes and communities. Using a qualitative multi-method approach engaging international experts from policy, academia and social activism, this study examines how a rights-based, decolonial rethinking of ageing in place can broaden its theoretical, policy, and advocacy scope. This work responds to calls from previous research for deeper engagement between gerontology and human rights, particularly as momentum builds around a potential UN convention on the rights of older persons.
Current state of research project: Currently writing two papers on the results of the thematic analysis of international expert interviews from the first work package.
Weblink for further information: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5530-8228
