Use of Community Support and Health Services in an Age-Friendly City: The Lived Experiences of the Oldest-Old

Increases in population ageing and urbanization have led to the development of age-friendly cities (AFC). While much has been done to integrate the needs of younger, healthier older adults, little research has examined the needs of the oldest-old. This phenomenological study explored the lived experience of 10 community-dwelling individuals, aged 80 years and older, using community support and health services. Three central themes emerged: individual circumstances, personal compensatory mechanisms and community design and structure. Numerous implications for AFC development were highlighted: (1) functional ability rather than chronological age should be considered in AFC planning, (2) informal social community supports are very important for those in advanced age; AFC planners must consider individuals in advanced age who are on the edge of losing their independence, and whose loss of independence may be hastened or delayed based on informal social supports available, (3) community design that recognizes and integrates structures to support the needs of frailer older adults may provide a protective buffer to enable these individuals to remain in their homes longer, and (4) socially isolated frail older adults are difficult to reach; innovative strategies are required to ensure their unique needs are discovered and incorporated in community planning