What Makes Neighborhoods Livable? Neighborhood Environments, Intergenerational Interactions, and Perceived Neighborhood Livability Among Older Adults in Austin, Texas

Livable communities are important for supporting healthy aging in place, while evidence on predictors of neighborhood livability among older adults is limited. Through a cross-sectional study using survey data and GIS (Geographic Information System)-based objective measures, we examined predictors of neighborhood livability and the mediating role of intergenerational interactions among 455 Austin older residents (65+). Results suggested that significant social and economic predictors encompassed social cohesion and support, crime safety, affordable housing, property value, and the density of children. Important physical environmental predictors included land use mix, walkability, transportation, aesthetics, green infrastructure, traffic safety, and neighborhood surveillance. Intergenerational interactions significantly mediated the impacts of high-speed streets or the number of parks on neighborhood livability. More efforts are needed to explore the complex causal relationships among neighborhood environments, social activities, and neighborhood livability, which can inform future policy, program, and environmental interventions aimed at promoting neighborhood livability and healthy aging in place.