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Published, Version of Record (VoR)Open Access via Drexel Libraries Read and Publish Program 2026CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
AARP Age-Friendly community designation and neighborhood resources to support healthy aging nationwide, 2012-2017
Health & place, v 98, 103613
Mar 2026
PMID: 41564668
Featured in Collection : Drexel's Newest Publications
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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Details
- Title
- AARP Age-Friendly community designation and neighborhood resources to support healthy aging nationwide, 2012-2017
- Creators
- Alexandra Eastus (Corresponding Author) - Drexel UniversityYvonne L Michael - Drexel UniversityStephen Dickinson - Drexel UniversityStephen Francisco - Drexel UniversitySteven Melly - Drexel UniversityJana Hirsch - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Health & place, v 98, 103613
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 6
- Grants
- Grant note
- Rahway, NJ, USAMerck Sharpe & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USANational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: R01HL131610 National Institute on Aging: R01AG072634 National Institute of Aging: R01AG049970, R01AG049970-04S1, R01AG0072634 National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute: R01HL14843 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: R01AA028552 Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement - Pennsylvania Department of Health: 4100072543
MESA Neighborhoods is supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL071759) , the National Institute on Aging (R01AG072634) . Novel methods for neighborhood research is support by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL131610) . Classification schemes, initial data processing, and protocol template was based off research from RECVD and was supported by the National Institute of Aging (grants R01AG049970, R01AG049970-04S1, R01AG0072634) , National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute (grant R01HL14843) , National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01AA028552) , Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement (C. U.R.E) program funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health - 2015 Formula award - SAP #4100072543, the Urban Health Collabo-rative at Drexel University.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Urban Health Collaborative; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Health Management and Policy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001674885500001
- Other Identifier
- 991022154843704721