Age-friendliness of a provincial city: Results from the validation of the AFCCQ for use in a New Zealand context
本研究验证了老年友好城市与社区问卷在新西兰的适用性，并评估了内皮尔市的老年友好度，发现住房满意度最高，交通、社区支持、医疗服务和财务状况满意度最低。
The global ageing phenomenon poses significant challenges for urban and community planning, leading to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Age-friendly Cities and Communities (AFCC) initiative to support older adults in ageing well within their homes and neighbourhoods. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the AFCC framework has been integrated into national policy; however, locally validated tools for assessing the age-friendliness of local communities are not available. This study aimed to validate the Age-friendly Cities and Communities Questionnaire for New Zealand (AFCCQ-NZ) and to evaluate age-friendliness in Napier City, where 21.1% of residents are aged 65 years or older. A two-phase design was employed. Phase 1 established face and content validity through consultation with policy experts and older adults to ensure cultural and linguistic relevance. Phase 2 involved psychometric validation using confirmatory factor analysis, resulting in a 23-item instrument encompassing the eight WHO AFCC domains plus an additional domain on perceived financial wellbeing. The AFCCQ-NZ demonstrated excellent model fit and internal consistency. Survey data from 354 older adults indicated moderate to high satisfaction with age-friendly features, with housing rated most positively and transportation, community support, health services and financial situation rated lowest. Cluster analysis identified five distinct resident typologies, revealing heterogeneity in older adults’ experiences. The AFCCQ-NZ offers a robust tool for assessing age-friendliness and informing local planning. The findings underscore the importance of the authentic and genuine engagement and inclusion of older adults in the age-friendly planning, implementation and evaluation process.