Age-friendly Philadelphia: Bringing Diverse Networks Together around Aging Issues

Age-friendly communities are committed to improving the physical and social environments that surround older adults to facilitate independence and neighborhood cohesion. The movement to create these places is being facilitated by policy makers, planners, and researchers from a variety of disciplines who are collaborating under the premise that traditional aging services must be seen within the context of the wider community. Although not a panacea for all the challenges faced by community dwelling elders, this approach will be an important component of the future of environmental gerontology because it rests on acknowledging the effect of the environment on health outcomes.