Editorial: Healthy Aging and the Community Environment

Population aging is a global issue that brings many challenges and opportunities to modern societies. Healthy aging and age-friendly communities are important public health priorities which rely heavily on having supportive community environments that meet the needs of older adults. Such environmental supports may include barrier-free home and neighborhood environments, daily destinations located within an easy walking distance from home, connected
and well-maintained sidewalks, and benches and good lighting along streets/paths, among many others. Requirements and preferences for environmental supports vary by different groups and generations of older adults. Healthy aging also requires supportive social and technological environments. Technology is an increasingly important factor driving changes in senior living. It
offers a variety of solutions to support older adults’ independence and social connectedness, as well as strategies to improve measurement approaches to better understand spatio-behavioral patterns of older adults’ daily living.