Access to Employment, Volunteer Activities, and Community Events and Perceptions of Age-Friendliness: The Role of Social Connectedness.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the direct and indirect effects of access to employment, volunteer opportunities, and community events on older adults' perception of age-friendliness and feelings of connectedness. Data were from an age-friendly community survey conducted in a Midwestern city in the United States. We analyzed the responses of 264 older adult residents (50 years and older) using path analysis. Results showed that access to community events, job resources, and connectedness were predictors of older adults' perceptions of age-friendliness of their community, and that connectedness mediated the relationship between access to community events and perceived age-friendliness. The findings help to refine the concept of an age-friendly community from older adults' perspectives and emphasize the importance of fostering interactions through community events to enhance older adults' feelings of connectedness.