Reimagining urban aging: wellbeing of older adults in high-rise group housing in Ghaziabad, India

Rapid growth of the aging population, upsurge in life expectancy and changes in family structure are the key factors for social transformation, which any country has to handle in the national interest. Well-planned high-rise group housing has emerged as a contemporary solution to address the challenges of aging populations and urbanization. This research investigates the effects of urbanization on the wellbeing of older adults living in such housing in Ghaziabad, a Tier II city in India, and the unique challenges they faced. The methodology incorporates a qualitative approach through semi-structured questionnaire surveys with 201 residents aged 60 years and above. It addressed ten key wellbeing attributes (location; accessibility; amenities; infrastructure; barrier-free design; parks; safety; social interaction; place attachment and community space). Quantitative data were analysed via reliability testing, principal component analysis (PCA), and regression modelling. Findings indicate that high-rise living enhances residents’ physical wellbeing, social cohesion, and perceived safety. The analysis concluded that access to facilities, social interaction and environmental satisfaction enhance healthy and active aging. The study contributes a nuanced view on aging in urban Indian contexts and recommends design-policy pathways for emerging age-friendly high-rise housing in Tier II cities.