Age-friendly cities: The role of churches

Abstract

Although the role of religion and spirituality in the lives of older adults is well documented, more research is needed to better understand the role of churches within the context of “age-friendly” cities. Qualitative data were collected (N = 60) from six ethnically diverse focus groups and individual interviews of homebound older adults. Study participants emphasized the importance of churches as a source of social connectivity, volunteering, and as a provider of health-related education and informal services. Findings underscore the importance of churches in age-friendly cities and address a critical gap in the literature.