Age-friendly communities and perceived disconnectedness: the role of built environment and social engagement

Objective: To examine the effect of access to outdoor space and buildings and social or community events on elders’ perceived disconnectedness. Method: Data were from a representative survey conducted as part of an age-friendly community initiative in a large midwestern city in the United States. Hierarchical logistic regression was employed to examine the relationships between environment, engagement, and connection. Results: Having access to ramps to enter buildings reduced the odds of perceived disconnectedness by 79%, participation in social or community events reduced the odds of perceived disconnectedness by 83%. The odds of perceived disconnectedness for elders “not sure” of their access to public buildings were around 6 times that of those without access, holding all else constant. Discussion: Ensuring access to ramps to enter buildings, disseminating information about the accessibility of parks and buildings, and social or community events may reduce elders’ perceived disconnectedness.