Age-friendly communities in communities

There is an increasing need for the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Age-Friendly Community (AFC) initiatives to fit the needs of ethnically/culturally diverse seniors. Often having immigrated from another country, these seniors are less likely to establish meaningful social connections. These seniors experience added barriers to social participation, such as language barriers or a lack of programs that support their religious/ethnic norms, leading to an increased risk for diminished health and well-being. This research will explore how factors related to AFC initiatives included in the CLSA data (e.g., built environments, social inequality) vary across seniors, and will inform an understanding of how continuing AFC initiatives can enhance the health and well-being of seniors from a range of culturally diverse backgrounds.