Advancing Age-Friendly Community Practice Through Global Learning: A Case Study of the Athens County–Slovenia Exchange for Health Equity

Gillian H. Ice; Amy Lipka; Ana Ramovš; Katja Bhatnagar; Alen Sajtl; Peter Beznec; Ruth Dudding

doi:10.5334/aogh.5048

Advancing Age-Friendly Community Practice Through Global Learning: A Case Study of the Athens County–Slovenia Exchange for Health Equity

Annals of Global Health

Volume 92 (2026): Issue 1

By: Gillian H. Ice, Amy Lipka, Ana Ramovš, Katja Bhatnagar, Alen Sajtl, Peter Beznec and Ruth Dudding

Open Access

|Jun 2026

Abstract

Background: As populations age globally, communities are challenged to promote health equity and well-being for older adults. The World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities provides a platform for sharing local innovations, while Global Learning for Health Equity (GL4HE) offers a framework for reciprocal, evidence-to-action learning across borders.

Objective: This case study examines a bilateral exchange between Athens County, Ohio, USA, and Slovenia to assess how short-term, immersive exchanges can stimulate innovation, clarify contextual factors, and build relationships that support age-friendly practice, following the GL4HE framework.

Methods: The project engaged a seven-member delegation from Athens County in Slovenia (January 2025) and a six-member Slovenian delegation in Athens County (May 2025). Delegations included representatives from local government, public health, community organizations, and academia. Itineraries combined structured site visits, informal reflection sessions, and cultural experiences. Documentation included agendas, minutes, reflections, evaluation, and message logs. Data were analyzed using a hybrid coding approach informed by the GL4HE framework and WHO Age-Friendly domains, with inductive coding to identify emergent themes.

Results: Five themes emerged: (1) inspiration sparks innovation, (2) comparative learning clarified context, (3) time for focus, (4) group reflection enhances learning, and (5) exchanges build relationships that inspire future collaboration. Participants reported both professional and personal transformation, with recognition that exchanges at the “explore” stage of GL4HE generate inspiration more than direct adoption.

Conclusions: Short-term exchanges are valuable vehicles for advancing age-friendly practice through global learning. By prioritizing a concentrated focus on a single issue (e.g., aging), reflection, and relationship building, exchanges provide a foundation for reciprocity and evidence-to-action transfer. Even without immediate adoption, such experiences can catalyze equity-oriented innovation and strengthen the relational infrastructure needed for sustained collaboration.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.5048 | Journal eISSN: 2214-9996

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Language: English

Page range: 58 - 58

Submitted on: Oct 31, 2025

Accepted on: May 28, 2026

Published on: Jun 23, 2026

Published by: Ubiquity Press

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Keywords:

global health,

health equity,

aged,

aging,

program evaluation,

age-friendly communities,

cross-national exchange,

older adults,

global learning

© 2026 Gillian H. Ice, Amy Lipka, Ana Ramovš, Katja Bhatnagar, Alen Sajtl, Peter Beznec, Ruth Dudding, published by Ubiquity Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 92 (2026): Issue 1