Understanding Aging in Place: Home and Community Features, Perceived Age-Friendliness of Community, and Intention Toward Aging in Place

Background and Objectives: Promoting age-friendliness of communities and supporting aging in place (AIP) are of great importance. Based on processes of belonging and agency, which suggest that person-environment interactions influence residents' evaluations and behaviors related to the environment, this study aims to examine the interrelationship between the availability of age-friendly features, perceived age-friendliness of community, and intention toward AIP. Research Design and Methods: This study used the 2015 AARP Age-Friendly Community Survey, which includes 66 home and neighborhood features under the 8 domains specified by the World Health Organization's Age-Friendly Cities Guidelines. A series of regression and mediational analyses were conducted to test hypotheses. Results: Overall, a greater availability of age-friendly features was positively associated with perceived age-friendliness of community and AIP intention. The relationship between age-friendly features and AIP intention was mediated by perceived age-friendliness of community (50.3%-96% of the total effects). When perceived age-friendliness of community was introduced to models, the direct effects of housing, outdoor spaces and buildings, and transportation domains remained significant. Discussion and Implications: Findings suggest that a greater availability of age-friendly features influences older adults' perception on their community, leading to the development of a desire to age in place, supporting processes of belonging and agency. Domains of housing, outdoor spaces and buildings, and transportation may be the most important features in promoting age-friendliness of community and the key determinants of AIP. Policymakers and practitioners may need to prioritize promoting an age-friendly built environment before the social environment in building age-friendly communities.

Automated summary

The study found that the availability of age-friendly features has a positive impact on the perceived age-friendliness of a community and the intention to age in place, influencing older adults' perception and desire for aging in place. Housing, outdoor spaces and buildings, and transportation domains are identified as crucial features in promoting age-friendliness of community and supporting aging in place. Policymakers and practitioners may need to prioritize promoting an age-friendly built environment before focusing on the social environment to build age-friendly communities.