Evaluating Age-Friendliness: A Case Example of a Baseline Assessment of One Mid-Sized Canadian City

Global, national, and local policy frameworks highlight the importance of creating age-friendly cities and communities (AFC) to respond to the increasing aging population. Much has been published related to the development of AFC initiatives and strategies. Relatively less has focused on evaluation; specifically, on baseline measurements of age-friendliness, which is key to any AFC initiative and strategy. This article seeks to contribute to the literature related to baseline assessments of the age-friendliness of municipalities. It presents baseline results of the age-friendliness of Calgary, a mid-sized Canadian city. Data collection methods included seventeen focus groups with age sub-cohorts.