Livability

“…the generic meaning of “livability” to me [is] it’s “livable.” You can meet your basic needs. You’re not afraid of crime. You’re not afraid of other safety issues… It’s just a nice place to live.” (Hwang, Glass, Gutzmann, & Joo Shin, 2008, p. 225)

An age friendly community promotes the values of ‘livable communities’ which encourage meaningful engagement and social inclusion. Health and well-being are affected by many aspects of community living including:

• the built environment
• vibrant public spaces
• community identity
• transportation, housing, and other social programs options