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Age-Friendly Communities and Older Adults’ Health in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Kyeongmo Kim

    (School of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA)

  • Thomas D. Buckley

    (Department of Psychiatry, School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
    These authors have contributed equally to this work.)

  • Denise Burnette

    (School of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
    These authors have contributed equally to this work.)

  • Jin Huang

    (School of Social Work, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA)

  • Seon Kim

    (School of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA)

Abstract

As age-friendly community (AFC) initiatives grow, it will be essential to determine whether older adults who live in an AFC have better health than those who live in other environments. This study uses data from the 2017 AARP AFC Surveys and the AARP Livability Index to assess whether AFCs promote the health of older adults. We analyze data for 3027 adults aged 65 and older who reside in 262 zip code areas. Following AARP guidelines, we allocated the sample into two groups: an AFC group (livability score of 51+; n = 2364) and a non-AFC (score ≤ 50, n = 663). The outcome variable was self-rated health (M = 3.5; SD = 1.1; range: 1–5). We used an inverse probability weighting approach to evaluate whether older adults who live in an AFC reported better self-rated health than those who live in a non-AFC. Findings showed that older adults who lived in an AFC had better self-rated health than those in a non-AFC (b = 0.08, p = 0.027). Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, Black and Hispanic older adults reported worse self-rated health. Inasmuch as living in an AFC can promote the well-being of older adults, policymakers and practitioners should continue to develop and sustain high-quality, accessible built and social environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Kyeongmo Kim & Thomas D. Buckley & Denise Burnette & Jin Huang & Seon Kim, 2022. "Age-Friendly Communities and Older Adults’ Health in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:9292-:d:875294
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thomas D. Buckley, 2022. "A Scoping Review of Psychological Sense of Community among Community-Dwelling Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Warner, Mildred E. & Zhang, Xue & Rivas, Marcela González, 2020. "Which states and cities protect residents from water shutoffs in the COVID-19 pandemic?," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    3. Thomas Puvill & Jolanda Lindenberg & Jacobijn Gussekloo & Anton J M de Craen & Joris P J Slaets & Rudi G J Westendorp, 2016. "Associations of Various Health-Ratings with Geriatric Giants, Mortality and Life Satisfaction in Older People," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(9), pages 1-13, September.
    4. Xue Zhang & Mildred E. Warner & Elaine Wethington, 2020. "Can Age-Friendly Planning Promote Equity in Community Health Across the Rural-Urban Divide in the US?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-16, February.
    5. Grafova, Irina B. & Freedman, Vicki A. & Lurie, Nicole & Kumar, Rizie & Rogowski, Jeannette, 2014. "The difference-in-difference method: Assessing the selection bias in the effects of neighborhood environment on health," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 13(C), pages 20-33.
    6. Jixiang Xu & Yingwei Chen & Yujie Wang & Junling Gao & Limei Huang, 2022. "Association between Age-Friendliness of Communities and Frailty among Older Adults: A Multilevel Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-11, June.
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