The global validation and results of an assessment tool for urban age-friendliness: A great leap forward towards an age-friendly world

Abstract Age-friendly cities around the world aim to enhance the quality of life of older people. A network of like-minded cities and communities promotes the exchange of best practices, but faces challenges due to varying socio-economic and cultural contexts, which affects comparability and usability of shared information and limits mutual learning. The Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Questionnaire (AFCCQ) serves as a tool for assessment of cities’ age-friendliness. This study validates the AFCCQ’s cross-cultural applicability in ten countries (Italy, Poland, North Macedonia, Romania, the Netherlands, Australia, Turkey, Russia, Japan, and Israel) through data from 4648 participants, testing measurement invariance with structural equation modelling. Finally, descriptive statistics provided a baseline comparison between countries. Results confirm that the AFCCQ enables a uniform assessment across countries, facilitating meaningful international comparisons. Findings aid global entities like the World Health Organization in fostering age-friendly environments and assist policymakers in developing effective age- friendly policies.