The status of age-friendly community research

Abstract

The study presents the status of age-friendly community (AFC) research. A systematic review of AFC research from Scopus database up to November 2018 was used to identify 19 journals that published a total of 51 AFC related academic papers. The study categorised AFC papers into five main research types with empirical research studies emerging as the highest published research type. The study also identified a handful of position papers, theoretical papers, and review papers. The analysis of the highest impact citation papers revealed the following themes: development of AFC; urban environment pressures on AFC; challenges for improving AFC; integration of existing AFC theoretical models with the analysis of economic and social forces; application of ecological theory in AFC; and assessment of AFC. The findings from the study will be helpful to provide more profound insights into the AFC research field. It serves as a piece of referable information for experts and new researchers in the AFC research field. The status and the trending themes from the highest citation impact papers provide a good foundation for researchers to position their research and make suggestions for future research investigation in the AFC.