Aging-Friendly Communities as a Determinant of Aging in Place among Older Adults

Abstract

Purpose: Aging in place (AIP) is becoming ever more important globally and has many different possible meanings. The most widely used definition is the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). And World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized that AIP is the central tenet of the age-friendly city movement. AIP is not a simple term in that it seeks the independence and autonomy of older adults and implies a connection with the community. AIP can be seen as a paradigm containing the value of welfare for older adults. Supporting AIP in terms of improving the quality of life of older adults and advocating for human rights is a common and critical issue worldwide. The most important thing for successful settlement of AIP is the intention toward AIP among older adults. It is necessary to check what factors can increase the intention toward AIP and how to create an environment that helps maintain person–environment fit for healthy aging. The answer to how to create an environment for older adults to live for healthy aging can be found in the aging-friendly community. To better understand the intention toward AIP among older adults, this research identified the key determinants using the aging-friendly cities and communities by WHO as a framework. Thus, this study aims to examine the relationship between the factors of the aging-friendly community, life satisfaction, and intention toward AIP.

Method: This study used data from the 2020 National Survey on Older Koreans conducted by the Korea Institute for Health And Social Affairs (KIHASA). A total of 8,632 older adults (aged 65+) living in the community were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with bootstrap sampling. Measurement and structural model fit indices were evaluated.

Results and Discussion: Results indicated that Outdoor spaces (ꞵ=.20, p<.001), social inclusion (ꞵ=.36, p<.001), social participation (ꞵ=.06, p<.01), and information and communication (ꞵ=.32, p<.001) were found to have a positive association with life satisfaction. In addition, the effect of the dimensions of aging-friendly community including outdoor spaces, social inclusion, social participation, and information and communication on the intention toward AIP were mediated by life satisfaction. Based on the findings, life satisfaction was essential determinants of the intention toward AIP among older adults. The results shed light on how aging-friendly environment should be created to increase life satisfaction later in life. The outside environment and outdoor spaces have a major impact on the mobility, independence, and affect their ability to AIP. There is a need to prepare outdoor spaces that contribute to age-friendliness. We have to break away from ageism and discrimination against older adults and embrace social inclusion for older adults. Also, if older adults do not have difficulties in using digital devices in the local community, they will be able to increase their life satisfaction. And the life satisfaction increased by such an aging-friendly environment will ultimately have a positive effect on intention toward AIP. The findings of this study verified the effectiveness of the aging-friendly community, which can be used as evidence to create a sustainable aging-friendly community.

 Keywords: aging-friendly communities, aging in place, older adults, structural equation model