Age-friendly Cities Research Articles

Older Adults and Gentrification: The Positive Role of Social Policy.

Supportive public policies are suggested as ways to lessen gentrification's impact for older adults. While explicit policies designed to help older adults with gentrification are rare, literature on age-friendly cities is a close proxy. We utilized three North American cases undergoing gentrification: New York City, NY, and Denver, CO, in the United States and Hamilton, in Ontario, Canada, to present existing neighbourhood-based policies as social determinants of health in housing, resource access, healthcare, transportation, and communal places. Age-friendly policy application gap examples and COVID-19's impact were included. Using a qualitative comparative case study method, we found policies were not specifically designed to address older adults' gentrification needs. With the call for age-friendly designations, the role of gentrification in neighbourhoods with older populations must be included. We call for gentrification-specific policies for older adults to provide greater safeguards especially when events such as COVID-19 compete for existing, over-stretched resources.

Age-friendly cities enhancing ageing: accelerating digital inclusion for India’s elderly

Purpose This exploration begins with understanding the concept of age-friendly cities and communities as guided by the World Health Organisation. The purpose of this study is to assesses the potential of the concept of age-friendly cities and how these initiatives are driven by commitments to create an environment that promotes active ageing, leveraging digital tools and technologies to enhance connectivity, accessibility and overall well-being of the older. Design/methodology/approach The viewpoint discussed the diverse ways in which the unique concept of age-friendly cities or living areas can be explored in India. Such concepts will create a more inclusive society for the older people around us. Findings The viewpoint highlighted a few global cases of age-friendly cities. It emphasised their innovative approaches, lessons learned, best practices and challenges. These real-time examples inspire, showing us the potential and success of such initiatives. They also help us understand the areas we must work on to create such environments for our older people. The chapter also evaluates the initiatives and projects undertaken in India so far to enhance the living experience of the older, integrating digital technologies. By analysing India’s journey towards age-friendly initiatives, the discussion provides detailed insights for policymakers and other societal stakeholders to broaden the development framework that holistically incorporates the ageing population’s needs. Originality/value The concept of age-friendly cities in India is not just a new approach but a crucial one in the near future. Owing to the existing diversity in our country, this discussion presented in this viewpoint will help to emphasise the need to create separate policies and implement the same at various levels. Ageing is inevitable, and this study’s reflections will also allow families and society to prioritise the needs of older adults in their families and around them. This work will also create an opportunity for all society’s stakeholders to look at older adults’ needs differently and more practically, underlining the urgency and importance of this issue.

Systematic scoping review of ageing in place strategies in Japan, Singapore and Thailand: A comparative analysis.

Given the differing cultural contexts and service needs of older persons in the west and the east, programs or policies should be thoughtfully redesigned to accommodate these diverse societies. This paper presents a systematic scoping review of ageing in place (AIP) strategies in Japan, Singapore and Thailand, emphasising how they are tailored to address the unique challenges of ageing populations in Asia. A systematic literature search was conducted through seven databases. Empirical, peer-reviewed studies in English that discussed AIP-related programs or policies involving aged populations in the target countries were included. Themes were identified using the policy triangle framework, allowing for a comprehensive comparison of AIP across the countries. Three key components of AIP, place, support network and workforce, were identified from 44 included studies. Each country exhibits distinctive approaches to implementing these components. Japan has extensive AIP systems with comprehensive services and strong community and family support. Singapore offers innovative aged care with significant government involvement, though on a smaller scale. Thailand's localised initiatives focus on community health care and age-friendly city assessments, with a less developed AIP infrastructure. The study proposes a comprehensive framework for developing ageing policies in Asia, emphasising the need for a person-centred approach in developing AIP strategies that cater to the diverse needs of ageing populations, and underscores the importance of integrating health-care services, community support and home environment modifications. The three AIP elements advocate for a person-centred approach, providing valuable insights for policymakers to effectively manage challenges of rapidly ageing populations.

Evaluation of "Age-Friendly City" Indicators in Golestan Province From the Perspective of the Older Adult Population

Objectives: To evaluate age-friendly city indicators from the perspective of the older adults in Golestan province in 2023. Design: A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study. Setting(s): Golestan province, Iran. Participants: Individuals aged 60 years and above. Outcome measures: A sample of 310 participants was selected using proportional stratified sampling. Data were collected with a validated age-friendly city questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the participants in this study was 70.34±7.73 years (ranging from 60 to 99), with 64.5% being male. Among the three examined components, the component of respect and social security had the highest average among the older adults (4.65±17.72), followed by social participation (4.79±16.30) and civic engagement and employment (4.052±12.20). Agefriendly city indicators demonstrated statistically significant differences in variables such as city of residence (P=0.02), support source (P=0.009), income level (P=0.001), and marital status (P=0.05). Conclusions: None of the examined age-friendly city components in Golestan province met the necessary standards. Recommendations include enhancing efforts by service organizations to improve conditions for older adults.

The Role of Age-friendly City Indicators in Predicting Social Belonging in Older Adults Residing in Mohammadiyeh County, Qazvin, Iran

Objectives A strong sense of belonging is crucial for the physical and mental health of older adults and their social interactions. The age-friendly city offers various opportunities for social participation of older adults. The present study aims to determine the role of age friendly-city indicators in predicting social belonging of older adults residing in Mohammadiyeh County, Qazvin Province, Iran. Methods & Materials This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 300 older adults in 2022, who were selected by a cluster sampling method from six municipal districts of Mohammadiyeh County. Data were collected using a demographic checklist, an age-friendly city scale, and a social belonging scale. Data analysis was conducted in SPSS software version 23 using multivariate linear regression analysis. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results The mean age of participants was 67.55±6 years, ranging from 60 to 84 years. The majority of them were male (n=157, 52.33%), married (n=216, 72%), and illiterate (n=157, 52.33%). Among the age-friendly city indicators, the highest score was related to the safety/ease of transportation (16.86±4.51) and open public spaces (45.61±11.47) indicators. The results of multivariate regression analysis showed that marital status (β=-0.150, P=0.006), lower than high school education (β=0.170, P=0.003) and high school diploma (β=0.192, P=0.001), and the age-friendly city indicator of safety/ease of transportation (β=0.328, P<0.001) were predictors of social belonging in older adults. Conclusion The majority of older adults in Mohammadiyeh County are dissatisfied with age-friendly indicators. Those who feel safe and have easy access to public transportation are more likely to have a stronger sense of social belonging. The results of this study can effectively help policymakers and city managers in proper planning in order to develop an age-friendly city.

Community Initiatives and the Use of Welfare Technologies in Super-Aged Areas: A Case Study from Japan

Abstract Background Community initiatives are seen as a solution to issues such as social isolation of older people and the lack of formal care. The study examines the use of welfare technologies in two municipalities in southern Japan to enhance their community-based care systems amidst challenges like underfunding and coordination. One case, an agriculture-led town with a handful of administrators, and the other, a manufacturing-led 'Tokku' (national strategic special zone) with active central and local government involvement, provide contrasting approaches. Methods Using a case study approach, the initiatives taken by the two municipalities were identified from ’grey’ literature and examined to see what types of welfare technologies have been introduced and how, and what impacts the overall projects had on older people’s lives, well-being and care delivery. Results The current average ageing rate in Japan is 29.2%. Town A, with a population of 13,878 and a significant ageing population of 43.3%, has initiated various ICT projects since 2011. For example, recognising the difficulties older people have in accessing information, adopting a familiar ICT solution and taking time to explore new applications together contributed to the overall wellbeing during the initiation process. In contrast, ‘Tokku’ B, with a population of 916,003 and an ageing rate of 31.5%, the highest among 25 ‘Tokku’, prioritises Digital Transformation from cradle to grave. They are committed to sustainable development and improving the well-being of their residents (all ages) through collaborative strategies and a forward-looking perspective. The overall impact remains uncertain, however. Conclusion These findings shed light on Japan's technology-driven strategies to address age-related challenges, which resonate with age-friendly city initiatives worldwide. However, challenges remain, particularly in depopulated areas with limited resources and skilled care professionals. Further research, including comparative studies between Japan, Ireland and beyond, is essential to understand the impact of welfare technology integration in supporting ageing in place.

Intergenerationality in the Context of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: Older people’s Experiences and Perspectives on Place and Community Living in the UK

ABSTRACT Intergenerational communities can be understood as communities where multiple age groups interact, feel valued, and contribute to community life in an inclusive way. However, older adults in many communities in the UK can be excluded from intergenerational mixing. The PlaceAge project undertook interviews, photo-diaries, community mapping workshops, and knowledge cafés to explore older adult experiences of and participation in their cities and communities. Three key themes were generated, showcasing intergenerationality: (1) Connectedness in place and space; (2) Feeling old in siloed communities; and (3) Play in everyday life. This research emphasizes the importance of inclusive and accessible intergenerational places and activities that foster sustainable social connections and combat ageism. It highlights the value of playfulness, skill-sharing and co-mentoring, and advocates for the importance of incorporating intergenerational opportunities into the planning and development of age-friendly cities and communities.

Age-Friendly Urban Design for Older Pedestrian Road Safety: A Street Segment Level Analysis in Madrid

Walking benefits older pedestrians but exposes them to traffic crashes. With an aging population, designing age-friendly cities is crucial, yet research on older pedestrian safety at a micro-level is limited. This study aims to reduce older pedestrian–vehicle collisions and create more livable environments through infrastructure policies derived from statistical data analysis. Special attention is focused on collecting a holistic set of infrastructure variables to reflect most of the street built environment elements, which helps policymakers implement short-term safety measures. Using Bayesian Poisson regression, this study analyzes factors contributing to the occurrence of crashes involving older and non-older pedestrians on road segments in Madrid, Spain. The results indicate that different factors affect the occurrence of crashes for all pedestrians versus older pedestrians specifically. Traffic crashes involving all pedestrians are affected by leisure points of interest, bus stops, and crosswalk density. Older pedestrian traffic crashes are influenced by population density, the presence of trees and trash containers, and contour complexity. Proposed measures include relocating trees and trash containers, modifying bus stops, and adding crosswalks and traffic lights. This paper also shows that these countermeasures, aimed at creating age-friendly streets for older pedestrians, are not expected to worsen the road safety of other pedestrians.

Active methodologies for learning about human rights through the Age-Friendly Cities project in the social work bachelor’s degree

ABSTRACT A teaching experience was conducted on linking academic content with activities of the Age-Friendly Cities project as applied to the city of Logroño (La Rioja, Spain). The aim was to improve students’ understanding of human rights and their application in social work practice. The article described the methodological process linked to two subjects in the third year of the Social Work degree course: Design and Evaluation of Social Programmes and Community Social Work. Cooperative learning techniques such as flipped classroom, jigsaw, discussions and community mapping were introduced. A semi-structured questionnaire was carried out to find out about the students’ perception of the project. The results showed the satisfaction of students were with the methodology used and the improvement of general and specific skills, as well as the need to reinforce the link between Human Rights and Social Work through local and community experiences that bring social problems closer to the classroom and thus promoted meaningful learning.

An Age-Friendly Neighbourhood Index as a Long-Term Urban Planning Decision-Making Tool

People responsible for shaping the future of cities often seek valuable tools to assist in their decision-making processes. Using objective, quantified, and analysed data proves highly beneficial when determining where to focus interventions at the city level. Various urban indexes have been established to measure different aspects of urban life, ranging from sustainability to liveability. These indexes encompass multiple dimensions of a city, including mobility and walkability, among others. The age-friendly cities initiative developed indicators for assessing the age-friendliness of cities. Some researchers further refined these indicators to focus on urban planning competencies. Building on this foundation, this article aims to present an Age-Friendly Neighbourhood Index (AFNI) validated by a panel of experts using the Delphi method. This index can serve as a valuable tool for urban planners when they need to prioritise interventions to enhance age-friendliness at neighbourhood scale. The article also outlines the necessary data and measurement techniques for these indicators. The AFNI has been applied to a real case study in the city of Santander (Spain). This application assesses the age-friendliness of various neighbourhoods in Santander, demonstrating the challenges in acquiring sub-local quality data and emphasising the need for data-driven urban management.

A Review of Public Sector Engagement in Age-Friendly Community Initiatives

ABSTRACT The global age-friendly cities and communities (AFCC) movement has centered on the involvement of the public sector, calling on high-ranking authorities to commit to improving the built, social, and service environments of their localities. This interpretive review aimed to advance understanding of the ways in which the public sector is involved in AFCC efforts. Based on emergent themes from peer-reviewed articles from the United States and Canada published since 2010, we derived a two-dimensional framework for conceptualizing variability in public sector involvement, encompassing the internal/external (a) locus of responsibility for cross-sector change and (b) target for cross-sector change. We discuss implications for research, policy, practice, and further knowledge development in AFCC implementation.

Supporting Older Adults' Mental Health Against Suspected Mental Health Problems: The Moderating Role of an Age-Friendly Neighborhood.

This study examined how compensatory and enabling domains of an Age-Friendly City (AFC) moderate the relationship between suspected mental health problems and depressive and anxiety symptoms among older adults. Four thousand six hundred and twenty-five Hong Kong Chinese aged ≥60 years completed a telephone survey between April and July 2022, including PHQ-2 and GAD-2. AFC indices sourced from prior territory-wide study. Linear mixed models showed that enabling AFC domains, namely, social participation, respect and social inclusion, and civic participation and employment, alleviated the effects of suspected mental health problems on respondents' depressive and anxiety symptoms (b = -0.40 to -0.56). Three-way interaction models revealed that the protective effects of all compensatory and enabling AFCC domains (b = -1.23 to -6.18), except civic participation and employment, were stronger in old-old (70-79years) and oldest-old (≥80years) than young-old (60-69years). AFCC-based interventions should focus on compensatory and enabling domains to support older adults' mental health.

Evaluation of elderly-friendly open space and public service buildings in madiun city using importance performance analysis (IPA)

<p>The Age-Friendly City Policy in Madiun City aims to improve the quality of life for the elderly by providing friendly and easy access to open spaces and public buildings. However, challenges in implementation may include appropriate infrastructure management and effective international policies to ensure the availability and availability of services that meet the needs of the city's aging population. This research aims to bridge the perception gap and provide concrete recommendations for improving Madiun's elderly-friendly infrastructure. This research is a development evaluation with a mixed approach (mixed method). The research sample includes various parties, starting from the Madiun City government, which is involved in planning and implementing development for the elderly in Pangongangan Village, the city center, who are users and beneficiaries of these facilities. The data analysis method in this research consists of quantitative and qualitative analysis. Based on the analysis, the majority of the construction of open space facilities and public service buildings in Madiun City is in accordance with development needs, according to the perception of the government and older people. Both parties were satisfied with the development results, especially on items of high essential and performance. However, there needs to be more perception between older people and the government regarding items considered necessary. This shows the need for synchronization between government perceptions and the needs felt by elderly people in developing elderly-friendly infrastructure. </p>

The Methodology for Assessing the 15 Minute Age-Friendly Walkability (AFW) of Urban Public Spaces

Recent decades have witnessed noticeable demographic changes around the world. The global population has continued to increase steadily and, according to forecasts, the trend will be maintained in the coming decades. An increase in the 60+ population is yet another important demographic change. These determinants pose new challenges for socio-economic, spatial, and transport policies in most, if not all, cities in the world. These policies should be aligned with the global development paradigm to promote sustainable development and sustainable improvement of the quality of life of the present and future generations. In the coming years, the potential of cities should be recognized, resources should be managed rationally, effective spatial policies should be implemented, and user-friendly spaces should be created to promote the development of effectively managed urban areas. Cities are often compared to living organisms, which is why social mobility is a crucial determinant of urban development and is often used in assessments of cities. To address the above needs, a universal and innovative methodology for assessing the age-friendly walkability (AFW) of urban public spaces was developed and tested in the present study. The methodology was developed based on a review of the current trends in age-friendly cities, a survey of the target population, and a self-designed concept for evaluating the walkability of pedestrian routes in public space. The proposed methodology not only contributes to the existing knowledge but also has practical implications because it was tested in a Polish city to classify the 15 min walkability of pedestrian routes and to identify Strategic Intervention Areas for the 60+ population (SAI 60+). This innovative approach to walkable urban public spaces is a simple tool for developing senior-friendly planning solutions in cities. The developed paper constitutes a basis for precise spatial planning it is based on reliable data by conducting a full and comprehensive spatial inventory of mobility trajectories of older people walkability. The aim of the undertaken research was to improve the quality of urban residents’ lives in the context of Sustainable Development Goal 11 (to make cities and human settlements safe, stable, and sustainable). Above all, the study is congruous with the sustainable urban mobility vision.

Enhancing equity in arts-based research engagement: Methodological considerations from a policy-oriented community-development study

ABSTRACT This paper provides reflexive account of an arts-based communication tool used for a community development project in Manitoba, Canada. Drawing upon an intersectional perspective of social, health, and environmental inequalities, the multi-phase engagement involved citizens (n = 17; n = 9) as well as global policymakers (n = 6) in healthy cities, age-friendly cities, and sustainable city policy arenas. A visual graphic was employed to foster bidirectional dialogue between concerned local residents and global policymakers, forming the backbone of a community engagement strategy. Reflective analysis demonstrates how art can be mobilized toward reducing inequalities while notable challenges remain—including omission of highly-sidelined perspectives amidst complex interdisciplinarity; potential reductionism leading to manufactured consent; and considerations of communities inherently excluded in a qualitative, arts-based community engagement. The impacts of art on power hierarchies, emotion, project efficiency, and privilege are reviewed, with the objective of supporting more inclusive arts-based communications in future research.

Perceptions of safety during everyday travel shaping older adults’ mobility in Bengaluru, India

BackgroundIn the context of socially sustainable urban development, comfortable, safe, and accessible public transport is crucial to motivating people to travel more sustainably. Using the framework given by Masoumi and Fastenmeier (2016) to examine the concepts of safety and security, we explore how perceptions of safety about different transport modes shaped the mobility of older adults in Bengaluru, India.MethodsIn-depth telephonic interviews were conducted with 60 adults, aged 50 years and over, residing in urban Bengaluru, using a semi-structured in-depth interview guide to explore the perceptions of safety in different transport modes. Observations were conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applying thematic analysis, we present how the perceptions of safety during their everyday travel shaped their mobility.ResultsAccording to our research, older adults’ perception of safety during their everyday travel is shaped by past negative experiences with accidents, pickpocketing, theft of mobile phones, and chain snatching. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the already existing inequalities, further limiting older adults’ mobility to carry out regular activities such as buying groceries, socialising, making a hospital visit, or going to work due to the fear of getting infected.ConclusionOur findings indicate that the use of public transport needs to be encouraged among older adults by enhancing necessary safety features following the age-friendly cities framework. Furthermore, it can help policymakers develop transport polices, which suit the mobility needs of older adults.

Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation and Brain Structure in the Middle-Aged and Elderly Adults.

Low-grade inflammation (LGI) mainly acted as the mediator of the association of obesity and inflammatory diet with numerous chronic diseases, including neuropsychiatric diseases. However, the evidence about the effect of LGI on brain structure is limited but important, especially in the context of accelerating aging. This study was then designed to close the gap, and we leveraged a total of 37,699 participants from the UK Biobank and utilized inflammation score (INFLA-score) to measure LGI. We built the longitudinal relationships of INFLA-score with brain imaging phenotypes using multiple linear regression models. We further analyzed the interactive effects of specific covariates. The results showed high level inflammation reduced the volumes of the subcortex and cortex, especially the globus pallidus (β [95% confidence interval] = -0.062 [-0.083, -0.041]), thalamus (-0.053 [-0.073, -0.033]), insula (-0.052 [-0.072, -0.032]), superior temporal gyrus (-0.049 [-0.069, -0.028]), lateral orbitofrontal cortex (-0.047 [-0.068, -0.027]), and others. Most significant effects were observed among urban residents. Furthermore, males and individuals with physical frailty were susceptive to the associations. The study provided potential insights into pathological changes during disease progression and might aid in the development of preventive and control targets in an age-friendly city to promote great health and well-being for sustainable development goals.

Concept of Assessment of Age-Friendly Residential Areas (AFRA): A Case Study of Gdańsk, Poland

(1) Background: Local governments are facing a considerable challenge to accurately verify cities, as well as to diagnose the condition of housing estates in the context of their friendliness to life of older people in order to be able to pursue a sustainable pro-ageing policy. In response to these needs, universal methodology for identifying age-friendly residential areas (AFRA) in cities was developed and tested. Thus, the main objective of the research was to develop an innovative methodological approach to the AFRA assessment, taking into account integrated functional-spatial and aesthetic indicators with particular emphasis on the ways of presenting results. (2) Methods: The methodology was based on the general, international assumptions of “ageing in place”, “age-friendly city”, “active ageing”, and an in-depth analysis of contemporary trends in this field, using international guidelines and recommendations, as in the case of survey data from the target international population and information provided by experts. (3) Results: The overall result of the project is a universal methodology for diagnosing housing estates in cities, taking into account infrastructural and landscape determinants in terms of their friendliness to older people, including a presentation of the usefulness of GIS tools to create thematic maps visualising the degree of friendliness. (4) Conclusions: This innovative approach to AFRA visualisation will expand the knowledge about the possibilities of diagnosing age-friendly spaces in the city that are conducted at the level of the city’s settlement units. The developed list of criteria influencing the friendliness of housing estates for older citizens can be useful for public entities in creating city and housing planning policies for private entities to manage their own investment plans and implement the concept of on-site ageing in their planning and for real estate agents to explore the real estate market for the needs of older clients.

Descriptive Analysis and Evaluation of Age-Friendly Environment Studies in Turkiye

The need to create inclusive and sustainable environments that enhance the well-being of the older people and compensate for social and physical barriers in order to adapt to the effects of demographic transformation and rapid urban aging has emerged. This need gained momentum with the guidance of the WHO's Age-Friendly Cities initiative in the early 2000s. These global developments have also influenced studies in Turkey. This study examines the perspectives and approaches to the topic of 'age-friendly environment’ in scientific circles and academia in Turkey in order to answer the question: How is the concept of 'age-friendly environment’ studied in Turkey? Scientific studies related to age-friendly environments in Turkey conducted between 2014 and 2023 were analyzed using descriptive content analysis method. The findings of the study indicate that the majority of studies in Turkey consist of articles (54.3%) and theses (30.9%), with methodological distribution being mostly limited to qualitative studies (38.2%) and review studies (32.2%). Furthermore, thematically, concepts such as 'age-friendly city, aging in place, age-friendly environment, age-friendly design, active aging’ are frequently studied, while themes commonly discussed in the international agenda such as inclusivity, accessibility, sustainability, and the right to the city are relatively underrepresented. On the other hand, it is observed that the majority of studies lack an environmental gerontology perspective.

Social Tie Benefits Framework for Older Adult Group Physical Activity

ABSTRACT We developed a framework of social benefits of participating in group physical activities for older adults to aid practitioners in translating concepts related to social benefits into the design and evaluation of group physical activities, and challenges to promoting social benefits. Using interpretive description, we developed a draft conceptual framework, which was further developed empirically using focus group data from 18 staff in roles related to promoting social benefits for older adults through group physical activities in a municipality with an Age-Friendly Cities strategy, and informed by interviews with 2 older adults with group physical activity experience. The framework delineated five categories of social benefits (role models, social networks, social participation, social connection, and social support) on a continuum of social tie strength. Challenges related to funding, evaluation, barriers to access, and limitations in knowledge and training. The framework has potential for building understanding of social benefits among practitioners across disciplines, and guiding practitioners to identify relevant social benefits for particular physical activity classes and align them with strategies and evaluation tools. It also has implications for research including developing techniques for training staff to promote social benefits, and for policy such as reducing silos in professional roles and funding.