What is the age-friendly community movement? Unpacking livability for all ages

Oct 16, 2025 2 min read •

senior care Healthy Aging Community Planning

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of individuals aged 65 and older is one of the fastest-growing demographics in the country, highlighting an urgent need for adaptive community infrastructure. This context gives rise to the critical question: What is the age-friendly community movement? This global initiative is a collective effort to create environments that are supportive and inclusive for people of all ages.

Quick Summary

The age-friendly community movement is a global initiative led by organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and AARP to make towns, cities, and neighborhoods more livable and inclusive for people of all ages, with a special focus on the needs of older adults. It addresses key domains such as transportation, housing, and social participation to foster healthy and active aging.

Key Points

Global Initiative: The age-friendly community movement is a worldwide effort, led by organizations like the WHO and AARP, to create more livable and inclusive environments for people of all ages.
Focus on Environment: Instead of focusing on individual deficits, the movement concentrates on adapting physical and social environments to promote healthy aging and prevent isolation.
Eight Domains: The WHO framework outlines eight key areas for improvement, including housing, transportation, social participation, and outdoor spaces.
Benefits All Ages: While centered on older adults, changes made to create age-friendly communities often benefit people of all ages, such as parents with strollers and people with disabilities.
Proactive vs. Reactive: It represents a shift from reactive care models to a proactive approach that prioritizes prevention, independence, and lifelong community engagement.
Local Action: The movement relies on local initiatives, resident engagement, and strategic planning to identify needs and implement improvements tailored to each community.
Economic Advantage: Beyond social benefits, age-friendly communities can also experience economic growth by retaining older workers and leveraging the purchasing power of the aging population.

Understanding the Core Philosophy of Age-Friendly Communities

The age-friendly movement centers on the belief that communities should be designed to support people throughout their lives, from childhood to old age. It views older adults not as a group with diminishing capacities, but as valuable community members. The movement recognizes the significant impact of physical and social surroundings on health and well-being.

This initiative promotes a proactive approach to well-being, focusing on creating environments that prevent isolation, encourage independence, and support lifelong engagement. This involves systemic changes like accessible public transport and safe parks, which benefit individuals of all ages and abilities.

The Eight Domains of Age-Friendly Living

The World Health Organization (WHO) provides a framework of eight interconnected domains crucial for the health and quality of life of older adults. These domains guide communities in developing inclusive environments:

Outdoor Spaces and Buildings: Ensuring public areas are safe, accessible, and enjoyable.
Transportation: Providing varied, safe, and affordable transit options.
Housing: Advocating for affordable, safe, and adaptable housing.
Social Participation: Creating accessible opportunities for social engagement.
Respect and Social Inclusion: Fostering a culture that values and includes older adults.
Civic Participation and Employment: Encouraging involvement in community decisions and offering flexible opportunities.
Communication and Information: Making information clear and easily accessible.
Community Support and Health Services: Ensuring accessible and coordinated services for older adults.

Comparing Age-Friendly and Traditional Senior Care Models


Feature	Age-Friendly Community Model	Traditional Senior Care Model
Focus	Proactive prevention, universal design for all ages, healthy aging in the broader community.	Reactive intervention, addressing deficits and decline, typically in institutional settings.
Scope	Community-wide, multi-sector approach (planning, housing, transport, etc.).	Individual-focused, often centered around clinical or residential care.
Involvement	Actively involves older adults in the planning and decision-making process.	Often a top-down approach, with decisions made by providers or family.
Environment	Adapts the physical and social environment to be more supportive and accessible for everyone.	Adapts the individual to a specific environment (e.g., assisted living facility).
Benefit	Benefits people of all ages and abilities, not just older adults.	Primarily benefits the individual receiving specialized care.
Outcome	Increased independence, community engagement, and reduced social isolation.	Improved health outcomes within a clinical or residential context.

The Economic and Social Benefits

Adopting an age-friendly approach offers significant economic advantages by supporting older adults in the workforce and boosting local economies. Socially, it helps combat loneliness and strengthens community connections through intergenerational activities.

Getting Involved in the Movement

Individuals and organizations can participate by forming local teams, assessing community needs, and developing action plans. Joining networks like the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities provides support and resources. Even small-scale advocacy can make a difference.

The Journey to Becoming Age-Friendly

Becoming age-friendly requires ongoing effort and collaboration to meet community needs. By following age-friendly principles, communities can create environments where all generations can thrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

The age-friendly community movement is a global initiative focused on making communities more livable for people of all ages, with a strong focus on older adults. The movement was started by the World Health Organization (WHO), which launched the Global Age-Friendly Cities Project in 2006.

The eight domains identified by the WHO are: outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, and community support and health services.

Universal design principles and improvements that benefit older adults, such as accessible transportation and safe parks, also benefit people with disabilities, young families, and anyone who relies on community infrastructure. Enhanced social networks and better public services improve the quality of life for all residents.

AARP is a major partner in the age-friendly movement in the United States, operating the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. It provides resources, support, and a framework for American cities and states to become more age-friendly.

One can assess a community's age-friendliness by examining local policies and infrastructure across the eight WHO domains. Many organizations, including AARP, provide toolkits and resources for local groups to conduct community-wide assessments and surveys to gather feedback from residents.

Aging in place refers to the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age. The age-friendly movement supports this by advocating for accessible housing, affordable home maintenance, and the services necessary to remain connected to the community.

By enhancing opportunities for social participation, improving accessible transportation, and promoting civic engagement, age-friendly communities help to reduce barriers that lead to social isolation. They create gathering places and events that encourage intergenerational interaction and foster strong social networks.

The movement recognizes that older adults are a valuable economic asset. It addresses economic issues by promoting employment opportunities, supporting entrepreneurship among older adults, and encouraging local investment that benefits the aging population.

References

Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding personal health decisions.