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Towards Age-Inclusive Urban Futures: A Review of Retirement Cities for Senior Citizens

Author

Listed:
  • Adnan Aminuddin

    (Faculty of Administrative Science & Policy Studies, University Technology MARA, Cawangan Kedah, Kampus Sungai Petani, Malaysia)

  • Nazni Noordin

    (Faculty of Administrative Science & Policy Studies, University Technology MARA, Cawangan Kedah, Kampus Sungai Petani, Malaysia)

  • Muhammad Syahmizan Azmi

    (Faculty of Administrative Science & Policy Studies, University Technology MARA, Cawangan Kedah, Kampus Sungai Petani, Malaysia)

  • Jazimin Zakaria

    (Faculty of Administrative Science & Policy Studies, University Technology MARA, Cawangan Kedah, Kampus Sungai Petani, Malaysia)

  • Zaherawati Zakaria

    (Faculty of Administrative Science & Policy Studies, University Technology MARA, Cawangan Kedah, Kampus Sungai Petani, Malaysia)

Abstract

The rapid growth of the global aging population poses new challenges for urban environments, as cities must adapt to meet the diverse needs of older adults. Despite the increasing interest in age-friendly urban planning, there remains a lack of comprehensive understanding of how retirement cities can be conceptualized as inclusive, sustainable, and livable environments for senior citizens. Addressing this gap, the present study aims to analyze the research landscape on retirement cities through Scopus AI Analytics, with a particular focus on age-inclusive urban futures. Using Scopus AI (as of September 11, 2025), the study employed a structured search query to extract and examine scholarly insights through five analytical layers: Summary, Expanded Summary, Concept Map, Topic Experts, and Emerging Themes. Findings indicate that retirement cities are characterized by interrelated domains, including age-friendly urban design, transportation accessibility, community facilities, and sustainable planning. Consistent themes highlight the enduring importance of inclusive urban design, while novel themes such as smart cities and digital inclusion suggest a paradigm shift toward technology-enabled aging futures. Insights from leading experts, including Joost van Hoof, Jeroen Dikken, and Maxwell Douglas Hartt, reinforce the critical role of participatory approaches in urban planning for seniors. The study contributes theoretically by reframing retirement cities as dynamic socio-technical systems and offers practical guidance for policymakers and planners to design age-inclusive environments. Limitations include reliance on secondary sources and the need for comparative and longitudinal research. Future work should further investigate the intersection of digital innovation, universal design, and sustainable urban planning for aging populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Adnan Aminuddin & Nazni Noordin & Muhammad Syahmizan Azmi & Jazimin Zakaria & Zaherawati Zakaria, 2025. "Towards Age-Inclusive Urban Futures: A Review of Retirement Cities for Senior Citizens," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(9), pages 9669-9679, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-9:p:9669-9679
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Merten Nefs & Susana Alves & Ingo Zasada & Dagmar Haase, 2013. "Shrinking Cities as Retirement Cities? Opportunities for Shrinking Cities as Green Living Environments for Older Individuals," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 45(6), pages 1455-1473, June.
    3. Tianlu Qian & Zheng Fu & Jie Chen & Shujie Qin & Changbai Xi & Jiechen Wang, 2023. "Evaluating multiscale and multimodal transport inequalities in Chinese cities with massive open-source path data," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 237-264, April.
    4. Ravensbergen, Léa & Van Liefferinge, Mathilde & Isabella, Jimenez & Merrina, Zhang & El-Geneidy, Ahmed, 2022. "Accessibility by public transport for older adults: A systematic review," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
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