Age-Friendly Environment and Aging in Community Among Older Adults in Puerto Rico

Background and Purpose: Older adults value aging in their community due to long-term residence and strong connections with their neighbors and communities. Previous literature suggests that age-friendly environments promote aging in community, but few studies have examined the mechanisms linking these environments to aging in community. For instance, individuals who prioritize aging in their community are more inclined to remain there. Particularly in Puerto Rico, where sociopolitical changes have impacted older adults, aging in community is essential. This study examines whether perceived age-friendliness of the community is associated with the intention to age in place, mediated by the importance to age in community.

Methods: Using the 2017 AARP Age-Friendly Community surveys from San Juan, Puerto Rico, we analyzed data from 503 adults aged 50+. The mean age was 68 years, with 54% female, 48% living alone, and 48% college graduates. The outcome variable was the intention to age in community (88%), with perceived age-friendliness as the independent variable (M = 3.6; SD = 0.9; range = 1-5) and the importance of aging in community as the mediator (M = 3.9; SD = 0.9; range = 1-5). Adjusting for individual characteristics (age, sex, living alone, years in community, education, home ownership, employment, social connection, health status, chronic conditions, and caregiving), we used mediation analysis to examine the association between perceived age-friendliness and intention to age in community, through the importance of aging in community.

Results: Findings indicate that the importance of aging in community mediates the association between perceived age-friendliness and intention to age in place. There is an indirect pathway from perceived age-friendliness to the importance of aging in community and intention to age in place (b = 0.44; OR = 1.55; p < .001), after adjusting for covariates. Perceived age-friendliness was associated with the importance of aging in community (b = 0.31, p < .001), and the importance of aging in community was associated with intention to age in place (b = 1.41, p < .001). Direct associations were found between intention to age in community and perceived age-friendliness (b = 0.48, p = .038), and employment (b = -0.91, p = 0.04).

Conclusions and Implications: This study is among the few to examine the mediating role of the importance of aging in community in the association between perceived age-friendliness and intention to age in community. It highlights how environmental factors and personal values interact to influence the intention to age in community. To promote aging in community, social work practitioners and policymakers should focus on creating age-friendly environments and developing programs that enhance community attachment. Assessing older adults' desire to age in community and addressing their concerns can provide more opportunities for aging in community.