Developing core indicators of age-friendly cities: A global pilot project

Background: Ageing and urbanization are among the most transformative demographic dynamics of the 21st century. While cities continue to experience unprecedented growth, the proportion of older residents is similarly rising in urban areas. One approach to creating an urban environment responsive to the needs of older residents is in the concept of age-friendly cities. Many communities around the world have engaged in efforts to become more age-friendly. However, there is no globally established approach to measure the age-friendliness of cities.

Methods: A new approach developed through research and expert consultation identifies a set of core indicators measuring key aspects of the physical and social environment, as well as quality of life and equity. A pilot study was conducted with 15 communities from around the world to test the feasibility and utility of the core indicators, as described in a user's guide. 

Results: Each site reported data on the core indicators and locally identified indicators, analyzing the usefulness of the data and providing feedback. While data availability for the core indicators varied across pilot sites, the pilot results validated the indicator set and its relevance as a monitoring framework for age-friendly cities and communities worldwide. 

Conclusion: The core indicators provide an adaptable framework for measuring how well urban environments support the health and wellbeing of older adults. The indicator framework and user's guide are recommended for all cities and communities seeking to measure and improve the physical and social environments in response to, or in anticipation of, an ageing population.