Mapping Elderly Residential Research During the Onset of Baby Boomer Aging: A Bibliometric Analysis

As global population aging accelerates, housing for older adults has emerged as a critical interdisciplinary research topic. Understanding how academic attention has evolved in this field is essential for informing policy and guiding future research. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of 2,141 English-language publications related to elderly residential indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection from 2002 to 2021. It systematically examined publication trends, leading countries and institutions, key subject areas, collaboration networks, and journal co-citation patterns. The results show that the United States, Australia, and China are the top contributors in terms of publication volume, while countries like Sweden and New Zealand demonstrate high research intensity on a per capita basis. Over time, the research focus has shifted from clinical geriatrics and nursing toward environmental sciences, urban planning, and public health, indicating an increasing interdisciplinary integration. Collaboration network analysis highlights the central roles of institutions in Australia and Hong Kong in facilitating international research partnerships. This study maps the global knowledge landscape of elderly residential research and provides a foundation for future policy development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and scholarly inquiry.