Publication: Developing a Resource-Constrained Age-Friendly City Framework: A Mixed-Methods Study of Urban Aging in Bangkok, Thailand
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Issued Date
2025-08-01
Resource Type
eISSN
20711050
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105014477710
Journal Title
Sustainability Switzerland
Volume
17
Issue
16
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Sustainability Switzerland Vol.17 No.16 (2025)
Suggested Citation
Srikolchan A., Promjittiphong C., Losiri C., Dabphet S., Thaijongrak N. Developing a Resource-Constrained Age-Friendly City Framework: A Mixed-Methods Study of Urban Aging in Bangkok, Thailand. Sustainability Switzerland Vol.17 No.16 (2025). doi:10.3390/su17167394 Retrieved from: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14740/50440
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Abstract
The rapid demographic transition in middle-income countries creates unprecedented challenges for age-friendly urban development, as cities experience compressed aging within severe resource constraints—a phenomenon termed “getting old before getting rich.” This study develops a preliminary Resource-Constrained Age-Friendly City (RC-AFC) framework through empirical analysis of Bangkok’s urban aging challenges, addressing the need for context-specific approaches in resource-constrained environments. Using convergent parallel mixed-methods design, the research analyzed data from 1000 older adults and 195 multi-sectoral stakeholders to examine age-friendly service gaps and collaboration potential within Bangkok’s rapidly aging context. Importance-Performance Analysis revealed significant service disparities (average gap: 1.34) with Communication and Information (2.03), Housing (1.93), and Outdoor Spaces (1.78) identified as priority areas in Bangkok’s setting. The study proposes three initial RC-AFC principles based on Bangkok findings: Priority Hierarchy Adaptation suggesting systematic resource allocation approaches; Multi-Sectoral Resource Optimization indicating collaboration as structural necessity; and Leapfrog Innovation Potential demonstrating potential for constraint-driven solutions. This proof-of-concept study provides initial conceptual foundation specifically developed from Bangkok’s context, though systematic validation across different urban environments remains essential before any broader consideration. The research offers a Bangkok-derived starting point for understanding resource-constrained age-friendly development that requires substantial further testing and adaptation for application in other contexts.