Promoting healthy aging: A review of community-based interventions to support active aging and independence

Background: The global population is aging rapidly, with the number of people aged 60 and above projected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050. This demographic shift presents both challenges and opportunities for public health systems, particularly in promoting healthy aging and supporting older adults to live independently. Community-based interventions have become a key strategy for improving health, functional ability, and quality of life among older adults especially as many prefer to age in place.

Objective: The review aims to synthesize current evidence on community-based interventions that promote healthy aging and support independence among older adults. It identifies the types of interventions implemented, assesses their effectiveness, and highlights key factors contributing to their successful implementation.

Methods: A literature search was conducted across multiple databases using Boolean operators to combine keywords such as “healthy aging,” “older adults,” “community-based,” and “independence.” Fifty articles were initially screened by title and abstract. Of these, thirty-two full-text studies were reviewed, and twenty-six met the inclusion criteria. Only English-language studies were included, with no date restrictions applied.

Results: The review identified categories of community-based interventions and emphasized the importance of effective implementation. Physical activity programs consistently demonstrated improvements in mobility, strength, and fall prevention among older adults. Successful implementation was influenced by factors including adequate funding, staff training, cultural relevance, and community engagement. The findings highlight significant policy implications that require coordinated efforts among local governments, healthcare systems, and community organizations to create supportive environments that enable aging in place.

Conclusions: Community-based interventions are effective in promoting healthy aging and supporting older adults’ independence, especially when interventions are multi-faceted and locally structured. To ensure sustainable impact, policies must prioritize cross-sector collaboration, secure adequate funding, and promote equitable access. Future efforts should focus on integrating technology and developing scalable strategies, especially for implementation in low-resource settings.