Aging in Community Mechanism: Transforming Communities to Achieving Person–Environment Fit Across Time

Abstract

Abstract Aging-in-Community (AIC) has been the preferred way to aging. However, there is a mismatch between the communities' design and the needs of older adults. With the rapidly growing aging population globally, it is urgent to create a community environment that is constructive for older adults aging in the community. There have been limited scholars investigating the theoretical and conceptual mechanisms behind how the environment encourages or hinders older adults' AIC. This paper reviewed existing environment-related aging theories, aiming to clarify the AIC mechanisms to achieve person–environment (P–E) fit. Two conceptual frameworks were developed to help visualize the mechanisms of P–E fit and P–E misfit processes.