Age-friendly Communities Research Articles

Spatial scale effects of transportation, social and natural attributes of street environments on perceived activity opportunities for older adults

The street environment correlates with perceived activity opportunities for older adults. While numerous studies have examined the transportation and social attributes of street environments, the natural attributes have been less explored. Furthermore, the nonlinear relationship between the street environment and perceived activity opportunities across different spatial scales remains under-researched. We hypothesize that transportation, social, and natural attributes influence perceived activity opportunities, and their nonlinear effects vary across spatial scales. Therefore, we used activity survey data and multi-source big data from Dalian, China. Employing gradient boosted decision tree (GBDT) methods, we evaluated the nonlinear correlation between the street environment and perceived activity opportunities. Our study considered three community life circle scales: 5-min, 10-min, and 15-min. The results indicated that street features varied significantly at different spatial scales. Specifically, factors such as density of street network, diversity of street interface, distance to the nearest public transport station, accessibility of green space, diversion ratio, and distance to the nearest blue space notably influence perceived activity opportunities across these scales. The study also found that the nonlinear correlations between street environments and perceived activity opportunities were prevalent and varied across spatial scales. These results suggest that priorities for street environment improvements should account for these spatial scale variations. Our research provides multi-scale recommendations for the development of sustainable transportation, age-friendly communities, and the promotion of aging in place.

'It Made Me Change the Way I Do Business': Outcomes from Age-Friendly Community Initiatives as Systems Change.

Since the early 2000s, a global age-friendly communities (AFC) movement has called for improving the built, social, and service environments of localities for aging. Yet research on the outcomes of AFC initiatives, as programmatic efforts toward AFC progress, remains in its nascence. Drawing on "The Water of Systems Change" framework, our study aimed to address this gap by exploring the extent to which accomplishments of AFC initiatives are indicative of altering six conditions for systems change: policies, organizational practices, resource allocations, power dynamics, relationships, and mental models. We analyzed qualitative data from 26 key informant interviews across eight mature AFC initiatives in the northeastern United States. We engaged in iterative phases of thematic analysis to explore how the initiatives' accomplishments, as described by the participants, align with each of six focal conditions for systems change. We found especially robust and consistent evidence for outcomes in terms of enhanced organizational practices on aging; resource flows; connections within and across communities; and mental models about older adults. Evidence for outcomes concerning changes in power dynamics and policy was more limited. Conceptualizing AFC initiatives as systems-change interventions can bolster research, evaluation, and program development as the movement proliferates and diversifies into the 21st century. Insights can help to advance praxis that empowers AFC leaders as changemakers for "successful aging" at the level of society.

Research on the aging-suitability of community outdoor spaces in Zhengzhou based on the analytic hierarchy process and semantic differential method.

As global populations age, the suitability of community outdoor spaces for older adult residents has become a critical urban planning concern. However, comprehensive evaluation methods for assessing these spaces are lacking. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the aging-suitability of community outdoor spaces in Zhengzhou, China, and provide optimization suggestions for urban planners and policymakers. An evaluation index system was established using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), with aging-suitability as the goal layer. The criteria layer included outdoor behavioral activities, green space configuration, transportation and road systems, and basic service facilities. The semantic differential (SD) method was employed to conduct a comprehensive evaluation among older adult residents in three communities (A, B, and C) in Zhengzhou city. The evaluation revealed that older adult residents generally had a favorable assessment of their community spaces' aging-suitability. Community A received the highest overall rating. Green space configuration and transportation systems emerged as critical factors influencing aging-suitability. The combined AHP-SD approach proved effective in evaluating the aging-suitability of community outdoor spaces. The study identified key areas for improvement in each community, with variations in strengths and weaknesses across the three sites. Implications: Based on the findings, optimization suggestions are proposed in four aspects: enhancing outdoor behavioral activities, improving green space landscapes, refining road transportation systems, and upgrading basic service facilities. These recommendations can guide urban planners and policymakers in creating more age-friendly community environments.

Assessing Age-Friendly Community Initiatives: Developing a Novel Survey Tool for Assessment and Evaluation.

Age-Friendly Community Initiatives (AFCIs) have gained recognition as essential responses to the needs of aging populations. Despite their growing significance, there is a notable lack of effective measurement tools to assess the planning, implementation, and sustainability of AFCIs. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a survey tool for evaluating AFCIs. A sequential exploratory mixed-method design was used in two phases. First, we identified key themes from interviews with AFCI leads to generate AFCI survey items and regional workshops. Then, we conducted a pilot of the survey and assessed its measurement properties. Thematic analysis of interviews with 68 key informants from 58 AFCIs revealed four main themes: AFCI priorities, enablers, challenges, and benefits. These themes, combined with feedback from AFCI stakeholders at the regional workshops and a AFCI conference, informed the development and refinement of a reliable and valid AFCI survey in 2019, supported by a high Cronbach's Alpha value (α = 0.881). Steps were identified to maintain and sustain the AFCI survey over time. The survey accommodates AFCIs' diverse demographics, governance structures, and priorities with a standardized and flexible approach for effective measurement. This research contributes to the academic understanding of AFCIs and aids community leaders and policymakers in planning, implementing, and evaluating AFCIs.

A qualitative study of healthy ageing and co-production

Europe’s ageing population increases the demand for housing solutions targeting older citizens’ needs and preferences. Establishing age-friendly communities fostering social participation is essential for healthy ageing and various housing options with shared facilities prioritizing social contact have emerged. While involving older people in public service delivery is emphasized, studies on co-production with older people in building age-friendly communities remain limited. This study explores a co-production initiative between older citizens, a municipality and a real estate company in a newly established senior village focusing on organizational settings and physical facilities. A qualitative study inspired by the BIKVA methodology was conducted using focus group interviews with citizens, frontline staff, and management. Through reflexive thematic analysis, the physical environment, organizational setting and other factors influencing the co-production process were analysed. Citizens expressed satisfaction with the unique physical environment, the different activities and being involved in the co-production process on development and building up the senior village. However, the co-production initiative was influenced by the lack of frontline staff involvement, how the physical facilities were organized for building inclusive communities as well as the level of information provided to align expectations among stakeholders. Involving older citizens in the co-production of age-friendly community initiatives has the potential to take the identified challenges into account. To understand what constitutes an optimal environment for healthy ageing further research in collaboration with older citizens is needed.

Age-Friendly Communities, Housing Tenure, and Affordability: Implications for Older Adult Health

This study used data from the 2021 Central Ohio Regional Assessment on Aging to examine the capacity of housing tenure and housing affordability to modify the relationship between subjective community age-friendliness and health. Associations were modeled using ordinary least squares regression and assessed using hierarchical model comparison and moderation effect size. There was partial support for the modifying role of housing affordability in the association between subjective community age-friendliness and health, but none for the modifying role of tenure. Future implementations of the age-friendly model should consider how housing affordability may differentiate the individual-level impacts of community-level initiatives.

Leveraging Higher Education in Our Age-Friendly World

ABSTRACT There is increasing interest in better understanding the connection between higher education and age-friendly community efforts. The global age-friendly community (AFC) movement calls for multi-sectoral engagement in a multi-year model encompassing four core phases (engage, plan, act, measure) to improve livability in domains of community life pertaining to the built, social, and service environment. However, there is limited empirical knowledge regarding the involvement of higher education and how it supports AFC efforts. We used qualitative inquiry to assess the engagement of U.S. institutions as reported by 80 AFCs that completed a five-year cycle of participation. We conducted directed content analysis using paired AFC action plans and progress reports (n = 56) and classified engagement using a priori indicators by higher educational core activities (teaching, research, and service), core phases (e.g. measure), and clustered domain areas (e.g. built environment). Results reveal engagement across all core activities of higher education with most efforts in research, in all areas of the AFC model with most reported in the action phase, and across all clustered domains of practice with the greatest amount identified in the social environment. We identify opportunities for greater engagement and leadership through higher education in our age-friendly world.

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.

Enhancing resilience in ageing: The role of age-friendly community and individual health in reducing seismic risk

Age-friendly cities/communities (AFC) propose promising strategies for incorporating disaster resilience-building with urban planning and design interventions. However, little attention has been paid to exploring the effects of AFC concept on the resilience and health of older people from a behavioural perspective and through empirical-based approaches. This article aims to expand on the attributes of AFC by incorporating social capital, community support, and individual health factors. We further explore their roles in enhancing earthquake resilience among older adults. We develop a novel interdisciplinary analytical framework, called the Framework of Age-friendly and Resilience Behaviour for Seismic Risk Reduction (FARBSR). This framework combined with focus group meetings and cluster, regression, and factor analyses to compare the determinants of pre-disaster preparedness, coping responses, post-disaster recovery behaviour and resilience among older adults. Based on an empirical survey conducted in Taipei, Taiwan, we randomly selected 427 older adults for face-to-face questionnaire interviews. Results show that high-quality age-friendly physical environments significantly increase older adults’ adoption of adaptation behaviour and resilience. Social environments, social capital, and community support play a relatively weak but critical supporting role. Resilience and adaptation to earthquakes also result from interactions between individuals and their environment. However, the effect of individual health and cognitive factors on this dynamic is mixed. Our research opens avenues for fresh perspectives, bridging the AFC framework with the health and cognitive attributes of older adults, and highlighting implications for policy in land use planning and built environment design.

A Grounded Theory of Walking for Health Promotion in Older Urban Adults.

Walking enhances the health, quality of life, and independence of older adults. However, a global decline in urban walking necessitates a re-evaluation of segmented, quantitative approaches to policies and theoretical frameworks in geriatric medicine for promoting walking among older adults. This study conceptualized the perceptions, experiences, and behaviors regarding walking, from a health promotion perspective, among older urban adults. Pedestrian-friendly communities were explored for older adults in Seoul, South Korea, using a grounded theory. Thirty-eight older adults actively engaged in walking were recruited between July and December 2020. A qualitative multimethod approach was used, and the collected data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding, with axial coding integrating textual and spatiobehavioral information. The open-coding process yielded 92 concepts, 47 subcategories, and 19 categories. Using axial and selective coding principles, a conceptual framework was developed to explain how walking shaped the daily lives of older urban adults and provided multidimensional health benefits. Walking perception attributes were characterized by "embodied subjectivity as a healthy older adult," "autonomy of movement," and "walking as a way to enrich or sustain life." Active walking facilitated interactions between older adults and their neighborhood environment within the context of compact and accessible urban living. A healthy and age-friendly community encourages interactions between older adults and their neighborhood environment by providing opportunities for daily walking for several purposes, such as providing a sense of autonomy, increasing health-promoting behaviors, and creating a sense of community.

A study on street walkability for older adults with different mobility abilities combining street view image recognition and deep learning - The case of Chengxianjie Community in Nanjing (China)

China is on the brink of transitioning into an aged society, resulting in a growing demand for an age-friendly street-built environment. However, previous research has paid limited attention to the differentiated walking needs of older adults. To address this gap, this study investigated the relationship between street-built environments and the subjective perception of older adults with different physical capabilities, focusing on safety, comfort, and interest. The older adults were classified into three types based on their physical mobility abilities. The TrueSkill algorithm was used to develop an online image selection website to obtain perception scores for sampled pictures from these three types of older adults. Image segmentation and deep learning were combined to extract indices of street view factors, and machine learning was used to train a scoring prediction model for all streetscape pictures of the area. The study found differences in the subjective perception among all three types of older adults, namely independent elderly (A), mediated-assisted elderly (B), and dependent elderly (C). Type A older adults might be attracted to factors related to the interest of walking despite their negative impact on safety and comfort; Type B older adults were more concerned about street conditions for safety and comfort. Type C older adults were prone to the convenience of barrier-free access and visibility. This study contributes to the study of walkability by providing a research framework for the subjective walking perceptions of older adults with different physical capabilities. Additionally, the visualized walkability map can serve as a reference for architects and urban designers, further strengthening the development of age-friendly communities with the aid of human-centric computational analysis, evaluation, and design.

Developing the age-friendly community parks survey for older adults: Assessing aging environment

Many scholars have developed tools to assess the public green environment and examine the impact of parks on people's health and recreational activities. However, environmental reviews often overlook the vulnerability of older adults, and an age-friendly community parks survey (AF-CPS) is lacking. This study developed a comprehensive assessment system, the AF-CPS. The research process was divided into three phases covering eight dimensions: a. humanistic environment (e.g., participation in the green space environment and in cultural exchange); b. infrastructure (e.g., edutainment, medical, and sports facilities); c. recreation comfort (e.g., atmospheric conditions, noise environment, trail comfortableness); d. site planning (e.g., spatial layout, activity space diversity); e. environmental quality (e.g., plant richness, latitude of vision); f. barrier-free environment (e.g., barrier-free site identification，barrier-free service facilities and barrier-free functional facilities); g. environmental maintenance (e.g., participation in building policy decisions, landscape maintenance management); and h. security management. The establishment of the evaluation system was based on a literature review. During the verification and modification of the model, an on-site investigation and questionnaire survey were conducted with elderly individuals (60+) in a community park to identify an evaluation system that can be used as a research tool to promote the construction and renewal of an aging-friendly environment in community parks.

노인 친화적 커뮤니티 공공 공간에 관한 연구

This study examines activity spaces in age-friendly communities in Chinese cities to meet elderly needs and reflect local culture. A case study approach was used, selecting typical communities in various cities. Design features and usage were analyzed through fieldwork, interviews, and literature review. Age-friendly spaces should focus on functionality, safety, social needs, health, and cultural belonging for the elderly. Designing these spaces addresses aging challenges, improves quality of life, and promotes sustainable community development.

Opening up creative resources: towards age-friendly communities through rhizomatic thinking and doing

ABSTRACT Globally, many complex issues, like the ageing population and health inequalities, require attention. People are experimenting to combat these issues in their local contexts through bigger or smaller networks; however, much of the knowledge about these initiatives remains localised and elitist and omits the voices and perspectives of citizens. This article identifies the characteristics of a more horizontal, emergent and plural epistemology to mobilize knowledge. We used local networks building age-friendly communities in the Netherlands as a case study. With members of 110 local networks, we worked with a new methodology called dynamic knowledge synthesis to create fruitful interactions and learn with stakeholders, including older citizens, in a learning community. Four working principles helped us, namely (1) a rhizomatic design based on multiplicity, heterogeneity and non-linearity of knowledge; (2) fertile soil nurtured by the talents and wisdom of participants through participatory arts-based methods; (3) so-called ‘wicked skills’ of a forester 2.0 to facilitate learning; and (4) an ecosystem metaphor as a boundary object to understand local networks. We invite colleagues to experiment with dynamic knowledge synthesis to connect on different levels, with particular attention to the inclusion of citizens in creating sustainable local communities.

Multi-Dimensional Healthy Aging Interventions: Evidence from an Age-Friendly Community Program in Italy

In this paper, we evaluate a pre-pandemic multi-dimensional healthy aging program promoted by an Italian private Foundation to provide new insights on interventions that address both health and social needs within an age-friendly community framework. Using propensity score matching and linear regression models, with specific controls for individuals’ self-selection into the program, we compare lifestyles, physical health, mental conditions, and healthy life expectancy of subjects enrolled into the program with those of similar, but non-enrolled, subjects. Our main finding is that, to be more effective, healthy aging interventions should target the key dimensions of aging - physical, mental, and social - in a holistic approach. Indeed, we show that the multi-dimensionality of the healthy aging intervention under study - the contemporaneous target of older adults’ physical, mental, and social health - is crucial in improving both quantity and quality of life.

Exploring the perspectives of older adults who are pre-frail and frail to identify interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour and improve mobility: a thematic content analysis

Older adults who are frail are one of the most sedentary and the least physically active age groups. Prolonged sedentary time is associated with increased risk of negative health outcomes. To help design effective and sustainable content and optimize the uptake of sedentary behaviour interventions, an in-depth understanding of older adults’ perceptions of sedentary behaviour is needed; however, most qualitative studies have been conducted in healthy older adults. The aim of this study was to explore perspectives of sedentary behaviour within the context of older adults who are pre-frail and frail after the winter and spring. We included participants if they: (1) spoke English or attended with a translator or caregiver, (2) were ≥ 60 years, and (3) were frail on the Morley Frail Scale. We utilized a qualitative description methodology including a semi-structured in-depth interview and thematic content analysis. Concepts from the COM-B (Capability Opportunity Motivation–Behaviour) model were used to guide the semi-structured interviews and analysis. To ensure credibility of the data, we used an audit trail and analyst triangulation. We recruited 21 older adults (72 ± 7.3 years, 13 females, 13 frail) from southwestern Ontario, Canada. Two individuals were lost to follow-up due to medical mistrust and worse health. We transcribed 39 audio recordings. We identified three salient themes: (1) older adults rationalize their sedentary behaviours through cognitive dissonance (reflective motivation), (2) urban cities in southwestern Ontario may not be “age-friendly” (physical opportunity), and (3) exercise is something people “have to do”, but hobbies are for enjoyment despite medical conditions (psychological capability). Perspectives of sedentary behaviour were different in the winter versus spring, with participants perceiving themselves to be less active in winter. Incorporating dissonance-based interventions as part of an educational program could be used to target the reflective motivation and psychological capability components. Future research should consider interdisciplinary collaborations with environmental gerontology to develop age-friendly communities that promote meaningful mobility to target physical opportunity.

Integrating linear and nonlinear models to assess the built environment’s impact on older adults’ behaviors in China

China is experiencing rapid population aging. The one contributing factor affecting senior citizens’ lives is the disconnect between the built environment in urban and rural areas and the behavioral preferences of older adults. However, research on the relation between the built environment and the behavior of older individuals has been limited. Thus, this paper uses the most recent health tracking data on factors influencing aging in China released in 2020 (China Senior Health Survey Tracking Survey). Applying traditional regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, and two decision tree optimization models from machine learning, a comprehensive comparative study is carried out to investigate the correlation between the built environment and the physical activity, dietary habits, and social interactions of older age groups. The findings reveal that built environment variables most significantly impact physical activity, accounting for 52.525%, followed by social interaction behaviors at 50.202% and dietary intake at 47.991%. Furthermore, the authors identify population density and greenness rate as the built environment factors having considerable effects on the behavior of older adults. Thus, this study establishes a theoretical foundation for developing age-friendly community environments for older adults.

Public Spaces for Older People: A Review of the Relationship between Public Space to Quality of Life

This paper investigates the relationship between public spaces and quality of life (QoL) for older adults, aiming to identify knowledge gaps within the context of population ageing and urbanisation. Recognising the growing importance of sustainable urban development, the research explores how cities can foster active ageing and improve QoL through accessible and inclusive public spaces. A scoping literature review identifies five key QoL domains for older adults: autonomy, meaningful activities, positive social relationships, leisure opportunities, and health. To identify knowledge gaps, a review of the literature was conducted for each of the highlighted themes. The review highlights areas requiring further investigation, including the interplay between environmental design and social connections, intergenerational perspectives on public space liveliness, the influence of context on QoL and the built environment, and the value of qualitative research in this field. By contributing to the understanding of QoL in relation to public spaces through the lens of person–environment fit theory, this study aims to inform urban design, landscape architecture, and policymaking in the creation of age-friendly communities with inclusive public spaces.

Data-driven insights into age-friendly smart community development in China: A case study of Beijing

The aging society has prompted a re-evaluation of community development strategies to better accommodate the needs of older populations. In this context, the concept of age-friendly smart communities has gained prominence, aiming to leverage technologies to enhance the quality of life for older residents. This article summarizes a general concept of an age-friendly community within the framework of smart city development in China. It then explores residential compounds in Beijing to investigate their potential for implementing age-friendly smart communities. Through data description and classification, the spatial distribution and local characteristics of residential compounds were examined. The results highlight housing compounds with the potential to become age-friendly smart communities, based on factors such as building age, population demographics, and typological differences reflecting community conditions and surrounding resources. Overall, by examining the intersection of the aging population, urban regeneration, and technology integration, this article contributes to understanding how data-driven insights can shape the evolution of smart communities in an aging society.

Addressing Equity and Justice in Age-Friendly Communities: Considerations for LGBTQ+ Older Adults of Color.

This research critically examined the concept of age-friendliness from the perspectives of older Black lesbian women living in New York City (NYC). The primary aim was to extend existing age-friendly frameworks to more inclusively meet the needs of older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer adults of color, promoting greater equity and justice. Applying principles from critical participatory action research, we collected and analyzed data from 5 focus groups consisting of 5 older Black lesbian women. Participants shared their daily experiences living in NYC and proposed ideas to enhance the age-friendliness of the city to better accommodate their unique needs and experiences. Participants called for greater attention to the interaction between identities and structures in relation to age-friendly communities. Historic and contemporary experiences of violence and discrimination, as well as the ever-shifting political context were identified as a key factor shaping their aging experiences. The need for affirming spaces with positive representation of their layered identities was emphasized in the context of age-friendly interventions. While dominant age-friendly frameworks are universally accepted for improving the health and wellbeing of older adults, the specific challenges of aging with multiple intersecting marginalized identities necessitate a critical perspective. Gerontology needs to take seriously how privilege and oppression operate within society, shaping health and aging trajectories of vulnerable and underserved populations.