Mapping the Vulnerability of Older-Adult Neighborhoods: An Ecological Study of New York State

Samantha Friedman, Chunxu Fang, Tse-Chuan Yang, Rui Li, Imran Hossain Mithu, Jennifer A. Manganello, Xiaobo Romeiko and Shao Lin ()
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Samantha Friedman: Department of Sociology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 348 Arts & Sciences Building 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA
Chunxu Fang: Department of Sociology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 348 Arts & Sciences Building 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA
Tse-Chuan Yang: Department of Sociology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 348 Arts & Sciences Building 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA
Rui Li: Department of Geography and Planning, University at Albany, State University of New York, 348 Arts & Sciences Building 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA
Imran Hossain Mithu: Community, Environment and Policy Division, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Jennifer A. Manganello: Department of Health Policy, Management, and Behavior, College of Integrated Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
Xiaobo Romeiko: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Integrated Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
Shao Lin: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Integrated Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 3, 1-21

Abstract: We examined neighborhood-level demographic, economic, and social characteristics and food and health-services access to gauge the vulnerability of older-adult neighborhoods in New York State (NYS), which is understudied and is significant given the rapid aging of populations worldwide. We conducted descriptive ecological analyses using data from the American Community Survey, historical redlining maps, Social Capital Instruments, U.S. Department of Agriculture food access atlas, ESRI businesses, and Social Determinants of Health. We compared census tracts classified as having high and low levels of older-adult population; among those identified as high-older-adult neighborhoods, we then examined tracts with high and low levels of adult population living alone and in poverty. Our results showed that NYS neighborhoods with large shares of the older adult population are generally faring well in terms of their socioeconomic status, social capital, lack of social isolation, and health services access. However, the older-adult neighborhoods with larger shares of the population living alone and in poverty fare worse, living in areas with poorer socioeconomic status, lower social capital, and considered medically underserved. NYS older adult communities are projected to increase by 2030. Resources should be invested in such areas with vulnerable groups so populations may age in equitable and accessible communities.

Keywords: older-adult neighborhoods; demographic; economic; and social inequality; vulnerability of aging communities; New York State (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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