Integrating Aging-Friendly Strategies into Smart City Construction: Managing Vulnerability in Rural Mountainous Areas

The vulnerability of older adults in rural mountainous regions presents a critical challenge for sustainable development, particularly in the context of smart city and digital town construction. In this study, we develop a comprehensive analytical framework and evaluation index to assess Vulnerability to Elderly Poverty (VEP) and adaptive capacity, with a focus on its integration with smart infrastructure and age-friendly rural built environment strategies. Using Shizhu County in Chongqing, China, as a case study, we explore spatial disparities in VEP and apply quantile regression to identify the driving factors of adaptability. Our findings indicate that subsidy-dependent, middle-aged, and empty-nest older adults are the most vulnerable groups, with limited capacity to adapt to changing environments. A geographically alternating “high–low–high–low” VEP pattern reflects uneven development in infrastructure, accessibility, and public service construction. These disparities highlight the need for targeted planning and building interventions in rural settings. The key factors influencing adaptability include individual attributes, intergenerational support, and macro-level conditions such as policy design and digital infrastructure deployment. The integration of aging-friendly building strategies, smart infrastructure, and digital tools significantly enhances older adults’ resilience and social inclusion. Based on our results, we propose four adaptation models for aging populations in rural areas, emphasizing the construction of inclusive digital infrastructure, aging-sensitive building design, and community-based support systems. Strategic recommendations include promoting digital literacy through built environment interventions, enhancing intergenerational living arrangements, and embedding elderly-responsive features into smart construction planning. This research offers new insights into construction management practices that support aging in place and poverty alleviation through inclusive and resilient built environments.