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AARP Age-Friendly community designation and neighborhood resources to support healthy aging nationwide, 2012-2017
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

AARP Age-Friendly community designation and neighborhood resources to support healthy aging nationwide, 2012-2017

Alexandra Eastus, Yvonne L Michael, Stephen Dickinson, Stephen Francisco, Steven Melly and Jana Hirsch
Health & place, v 98, 103613
Mar 2026
PMID: 41564668
Featured in Collection :   Research Supported by Drexel Libraries' OA Programs
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2026.103613View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open Access via Drexel Libraries Read and Publish Program 2026 Open CC BY V4.0

Abstract

To examine the association between city-level Age-Friendly designation and neighborhood resources that support healthy aging at the census tract-level. We quantified the density of neighborhood resources in census tracts that support healthy aging using the National Establishment Time Series (NETS). We identified cities designated as American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities Members. Using a propensity score matched regression, we estimated the association between AARP Age-Friendly membership designation and the density of neighborhood resources that support healthy aging within census tracts. Our matched sample consisted of 134,031 census tract-years between 2012 and 2017. Our findings suggest that census tracts located in Age-Friendly designated cities are associated with greater densities of neighborhood resources that support healthy aging overall, as well as for business establishments that facilitate aging in place (e.g., healthcare facilities). These findings suggest a meaningful association between local Age-Friendly designation and the availability of resources that can support aging in place. Although we did not directly measure health outcomes, neighborhoods with greater resource density are likely to experience multiple health benefits, including improved quality of life for older adults.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#10 Reduced Inequalities

Source: SDGs in the Output

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Web of Science research areas
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
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