Latent Profiles of the Perceived Age-Friendliness of Cities and Communities in Colombia: Relations to Ageism Experiences in Later Life

Age-friendly cities and communities (AFCC), one of the four action areas of the United Nations (UN) Decade of Healthy Ageing, have received global attention. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding the distinct experiences of older adults in their cities and communities, as well as the extent to which these experiences are linked to their perceptions of ageism.Using a sample of 398 older adults from four cities in Colombia, a latent profile analysis was conducted via the manual three-step method, incorporating demographic covariates and distal outcomes to identify distinct AFCC profiles among older adults. Three AFCC profiles emerged from the analysis: “positive with respect and inclusion gaps” (59.5%), “neutral with concerns” (31.4%), and “low-level with social inclusion resilience” (9.1%). Older adults with disabilities had a higher probability of belonging to the “neutral with concerns” group, while age, gender, and subjective social status showed no significant association with profile membership. In addition, ageism experiences differed among the three profiles, as older adults with lower AFCC scores reported higher levels of ageism. The results also suggested a potential method effect associated with negative items in the AFCC. In sum, our findings highlight the need to understand the distinct patterns in how older adults perceive their cities and communities, as well as identify those who may be “at risk” in specific domains.