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Your Neighborhood May Shape Your Ability to Age in Place

A recent report released by the Population Reference Bureau, "Today's Research on Aging: How Neighborhoods Affect the Health and Well-Being of Older Adults," shows that living in disadvantaged neighborhoods is associated with weak social ties, limited access to services and health problems, among others.

The report looks at the following neighborhood characteristics:
  • Walkable
  • Compact
  • Accessible
  • Safe
  • Plentiful Resources
  • Healthy Air
These characteristics are related to healthy aging in place, including self-rated health, physical limitations, cognitive function, heart disease risk, obesity and physical activity. Research suggests that in some cases, making changes to a neighborhood's built environment, such as improving sidewalks, may be a more cost-effective way to improve health outcomes. The full report can be found here.

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