An inclusive community for ageing in place: a conceptual paper

The number of ageing adults that continues increasing globally has evoked crucial concerns that require examination, such as strategies to provide a conducive environment for the ageing population to live in. All segments of society, including older adults, are entitled to enjoy such benefits regardless of age following the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Current communities should accommodate older adults who choose to age in place despite limited physical and social abilities through social inclusion and equal opportunities. However, research on how an inclusive community could address the ‘ageing in place’ trend remains scarce despite a growing body of relevant literature. Therefore, this study aims to examine the attributes of an inclusive community for older adults to age in place. The outcomes derived from article and journal reviews revealed that an age-friendly city and inclusive society effectively accommodates older individuals to age in their own homes and communities. This study contributed to the available literature by applying the three principles of an inclusive community (social inclusion and equal opportunities and capabilities) to how the community could respond to the trend of ageing in place among older people. Overall, community planning and development prove pivotal to establishing age-friendly and socially-inclusive societies.