Ageing well is designed, not left to chance.
Research and guidance on how the person, the place and the process around us decide whether later life is lived with belonging.
Doctoral research across nine international housing policies on five continents found a consistent gap in the Process Dimension.
About
Dr Anelien Venter
Age Belong Thrive is led by Dr Anelien Venter, a researcher and consultant with over twenty years of experience in programme development and training. Her doctoral work at the University of South Africa developed the Person, Place, Process framework: a new understanding of what it actually takes to age well, not in theory, but in the real places people live.
Better places.Stronger connections.Healthier, happier lives.
The Framework
Person. Place. Process.
Person
Ageing is personal before it is physical. Who someone was, is and is becoming shapes what a good later life looks like, long before any care need appears.
Place
A home is more than a building. Steps, distances, light, neighbours and local shops decide who stays connected and who is quietly left out.
Process
Good places still fail without good systems. The everyday routines, services and relationships around a person decide whether a supportive place actually supports them. This is the dimension where the research found a consistent policy gap.
Services
From research to real-world impact.
01Speaking and Keynotes
Thought-provoking talks on ageing, belonging, and the environments that shape later life.
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Drawing on doctoral research and two decades of applied experience, for academic, professional, and community audiences.
02Organisational Consulting
Strategy and support for organisations working toward more age-friendly environments, services, and policies.
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Available on request. Contact us to discuss your organisation's needs.
03Universal Access Audits
On-site assessments of public spaces, recreational areas, and residential environments, evaluated against age-friendly and universal access standards.
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Outputs include a written report, photographic record, and colour-coded map.
04Training and Capacity Building
Practical learning for organisations and teams working with older adults, covering age-friendly service design, universal access, and the Person, Place, Process Framework.
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Available as workshops, short courses, and tailored programmes.
05Toolkit Development
Practical checklists, frameworks, and assessment guides for individuals, families, and practitioners.
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Toolkits are currently in development and will be released progressively from 2026.
06Research Partnerships
Collaborative research for organisations wanting evidence-based insight into ageing, place, and belonging.
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Drawing on the PPP Framework and an established academic publication pipeline.
07Programme Design and Review
Evidence-informed design and review of programmes serving older adults and age-friendly communities.
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Available on request for organisations and local government.
Explore
The work behind Age Belong Thrive
Research
Doctoral research across nine international housing policies on five continents found a consistent gap in the Process Dimension.
Publications
The publications emerging from Age Belong Thrive span academic research, plain-language books, and practical guides, all grounded in the Person, Place, Process Framework.
Resources
Age Belong Thrive is building a growing library of practical tools and guides for individuals, families, organisations, and communities working toward more age-friendly environments.
News
Stay up to date with the latest from Age Belong Thrive, including research milestones, new publications, speaking engagements, media features, and developments in ageing policy and practice from South Africa and around the world.
Research
Doctoral research across nine international housing policies on five continents found a consistent gap in the Process Dimension: the everyday systems, routines, and relationships that decide whether a supportive place actually supports the people living in it. That finding is the foundation of everything Age Belong Thrive does.
Dr Anelien Venter's research explores what it really means to age well, not in theory, but in the real places where people actually live. Her doctoral work, completed at the University of South Africa, developed the Person, Place, Process (PPP) Framework: a new way of understanding how the interaction between who a person is, where they live, and the systems around them either supports or undermines belonging and well-being in later life.
Current research interests include
Three journal articles drawn from the doctoral research are currently under review. Academic profiles are available on ORCID, ResearchGate, and Academia.edu, linked in the footer.
Publications
The publications emerging from Age Belong Thrive span academic research, plain-language books, and practical guides, all grounded in the Person, Place, Process Framework.
Regular writing on ageing, place, belonging, and the everyday realities of growing older is published on Substack at agebelongthrive.substack.com. Academic outputs and scholarly profiles are available via ORCID, ResearchGate, and Academia.edu, linked in the footer.
Three peer-reviewed journal articles drawn from the doctoral research are currently under review for publication.
A series of plain-language books on ageing well is in development, with titles for older adults and their families, for professionals working in ageing, health, and design, and for policymakers and planners shaping the environments where people grow older. The first titles are planned for release on Amazon KDP from late 2026.
Resources
Age Belong Thrive is building a growing library of practical tools and guides for individuals, families, organisations, and communities working toward more age-friendly environments.
Resources in development include accessibility audit frameworks for public spaces and residential environments, practical checklists for older adults and their families, guides for organisations on creating more inclusive and age-friendly programmes, and educational materials on the Person, Place, Process Framework for practitioners in health, social work, architecture, and planning.
Resources will be made available here as they are completed. To be notified when new resources are released, follow Age Belong Thrive on Substack or send an email to [email protected].
News
Stay up to date with the latest from Age Belong Thrive, including research milestones, new publications, speaking engagements, media features, and developments in ageing policy and practice from South Africa and around the world.
Recent updates
- Dr Anelien Venter has been awarded her doctorate by the University of South Africa for her thesis developing the Person, Place, Process Framework for residential ageing and well-being.
- Age Belong Thrive is now live on Substack, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky, with regular writing on ageing, place, and belonging.
- A Universal Access Audit of the Garden Route Botanical Garden in George is planned for later this year. The audit will assess the garden's accessibility and inclusivity for older adults and people with disabilities, and will produce a written report, photographic record, and colour-coded map as Age Belong Thrive's first showcase project.
Follow the conversation on Substack at agebelongthrive.substack.com for regular updates, or connect on social media via the links above.
Contact
Let's talk about ageing well.
Whether you are an organisation, a researcher, or simply curious about ageing well, we would love to hear from you.
[email protected]Research. Practice. Purpose.
Together for belonging and thriving in later life.