[How age-friendly are cities and communities? German version of the Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Questionnaire (AFCCQ)].

Abstract

Background and objective: Urbanisation and demographic change present social challenges that are often insufficiently addressed in urban and care planning. This study introduces a German-language version of the Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Questionnaire (AFCCQ) as a tool for measuring age-friendliness. The aim is to assess age-friendliness from the perspective of older adults and to identify varying needs within cities. In addition, findings for the city of Oldenburg are presented.

Method: The validation study was conducted with a representative sample of older people in Oldenburg (n = 905). The participants completed the AFCCQ-DE questionnaire, consisting of 23 items, and rated their experiences in the city using a 5-point Likert scale (strongly disagree - strongly agree). A factor analysis and a cluster analysis were then carried out.

Results: The psychometric validity and reliability of the AFCCQ-DE were confirmed. The questionnaire, which was translated into German for the first time, proved to be a robust instrument that can now be used in German-speaking countries. Using cluster-analytical methods, four groups of older people were identified, differing systematically in terms of their personal characteristics and needs.

Discussion: The results highlight the importance of a standardised instrument such as the AFCCQ for planning and evaluating the age-friendliness of cities and municipalities. The collected data provide a basis for the development of targeted urban planning measures that specifically address the needs of older adults and support ageing well in urban environments.