Does aging‐friendly enhance sustainability? Evidence from Hong Kong

Abstract

The aging population is one of the demographic changes in the 21st century. World Health Organization defines an age‐friendly city as a place that has an “inclusive and accessible urban environment that promotes active aging.” It receives considerable attention in the field of gerontology and contains important aspects of sustainable urban development. Unfortunately, there have not much research that addresses the relationship between aging‐friendly and sustainability. There is a need to modify the market mechanism to achieve environmental objectives while striking a balance between social and economic considerations. This paper aims to empirically examine the integrated relationships between the dense urban environment and the social and emotional needs of the elderly in the Hong Kong context. The on‐street survey was conducted in eight districts in Hong Kong to collect the opinions about aging‐friendly criteria and sustainability indicators. It utilizes principal component analysis and multiple regression technique to unveil the mask of their intrinsic relationship. The empirical results suggest how the aging‐friendly factors have impacted the economic, environmental, and social sustainability to a certain extent. Notably, two key findings were revealed from the empirical results. (a) “Outdoor Spaces” is consistently found not to be a planning factor that can enhance three types of sustainability, irrespective of the age groups in Hong Kong; (b) “Community Support and Health Services” is regarded as a significant factor, with the exception of economic sustainability (age group ≤60).

Achieving Sustainable Urban Development with an Ageing Population: An “Age-Friendly City and Community” Approach

“…The Ladispoli and Romanian cases are also echoed in a Hong Kong study. Qian et al [45] found that respect, communication and information and community and health services positively associate with environmental sustainability. For activities to promote environmental protection, Clark [46] studied an AFCC project in Philadelphia called GenPhilly.…”

“…The only reference found from Qian et al defines economic sustainability as using existing resources optimally to create continuous economic value and growth. According to their Hong Kong case, social/civic participation and employment and community and health services positively associate with economic sustainability [45].…”

“…Matei and Saghin [48] found that the combined support from government policy and local initiatives for residential care centres can improve older people's rights to social sustainability in Romania. The Hong Kong case from Qian et al shows that social/civic participation and employment, communication and information and community and health services positively relate to social sustainability [45].…”

Nexus of regional integration, socioeconomic determinants and sustainable development in belt and road initiative countries

“…Boyacıoglu [ 3 ] concluded that the population’s age structure is reflected in the dependence burdens and may also affect the ability to save from a given national income. Qian, Ho [ 18 ] studied the aging-friendly and economic, environmental, and social sustainability relationship and found a significant sustainability linkage. Nilsson [ 10 ] posited that sustainable work life is important to all age groups, especially when working life extended to a higher age.…”

“…Kaimuri and Kosimbei [ 17 ] too observed the need for a global paradigm shift to sustainable development to address various problems facing regions and countries. Qian, Ho [ 18 ] lamented the lack of research on the relationship between age structuring and sustainable development. Grazuleviciute-Vileniske, Seduikyte [ 11 ] posited that at present, individual welfare becomes sustainable development and a human- centered approach; therefore, population and associated issues such as health expenditure per capita must be viewed from the perspective of sustainable development, based on social, economic, and environmental sustainability.…”