Age-Friendly Community Index
University Center for Social & Urban Research (UCSUR)
Overview
As part of the 2022 State of Aging, Disability and Family Caregiving study in Allegheny County, UCSUR has developed an Age-Friendly Community Index (AFCI) comprised of a database of spatial age-friendly community indicator variables for every Census Tract in Allegheny County. Census Tracts are small statistical subdivisions of a county defined by the U.S. Census and average about 4,000 inhabitants. These areas are commonly used as a surrogate for the neighborhood environment in studies of health and environmental exposure. We hope that users of this data, including policy makers, service providers, community members, and other stakeholders will utilize these rankings to focus on policy, services, and other interventions designed to improve not only the age-friendliness of their communities, but the quality of life of all residents.
AFCI Indicators and Domains
The AFCI data are organized using a framework of five Domains including 1) Physical Environment; 2) Transport; 3) Housing; 4) Social Engagement; and 5) Community Services. Each Domain is first characterized using a percentile ranking of spatial indicator variables as shown in the table below. Individual indicator rankings are summed to get Domain rankings which are then merged to generate an overall Age-Friendly Community Index. The Age-Friendly Community Index spatial data is a collection of tiered measures designed to allow direct comparison of census tracts for each individual AFCI indicator and Domain across the county. This enables the user to assess not just the overall age-friendliness but also the relative contribution of each indicator and Domain to the AFCI, identifying areas of strength and weakness regardless of AFCI status.
