Social networks as facilitators to age-friendly communities

Social networks have the potential to support older adults of all income levels to successfully age in the community by connecting them to resources, services, and social engagement, which lead to an enriched aging experience. Numerous networks and supportive communities are emerging that vary in terms of scope of support, costs, and benefits. However, there is little research that compares the health status of members or environmental constructs of various networks. We present age-friendly satisfaction ratings made by members of several community groups in Chicago. Surveys were distributed across 77 community areas administered as part of a baseline assessment of the age-friendliness for the city. A total of 2,600 individuals completed the survey. The survey included items on outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, communication and information, social participation, community support and health services, respect and social inclusion, demographics, and general health. Our findings suggest that the general health of older adults who associate with a social network reflects the average for the US population, and that while the city of Chicago is generally considered “age-friendly” by those respondents, older residents have different satisfaction levels by domain and individual indicator level.  Comparisons between diverse social networks in Chicago highlight important differences in satisfaction with access to services, housing, and social participation.  Using community based participatory methods, we are disseminating findings back to community groups to facilitate knowledge exchange about “age-friendliness” and engage members  interested in building age-friendly communities.