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Frailty, Function, and Well-Being in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
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Frailty, Function, and Well-Being in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

A special issue of Journal of Ageing and Longevity (ISSN 2673-9259).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 2655

Editors

Dr. Weida Lyu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Gerontology, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
Interests: gerontology; prevention of frailty; well-being enhancement; non-exercise physical activity; community-based interventions
Dr. Shangjun Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Nursing, Capital Medical University, Chinese Institute for Healthy Aging, Beijing 10025, China
Interests: social gerontology; social and environmental prevention of frailty; functional decline; cognitive impairment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Population ageing is rapidly progressing worldwide, and supporting functional ability and well-being among community-dwelling older adults is an urgent public health priority. Frailty, functional decline, cognitive impairment, social vulnerability, and multimorbidity significantly increase the risks of disability, institutionalization, and reduced quality of life. At the same time, emerging frameworks, such as intrinsic capacity, multidomain prevention, and community-based approaches, provide new opportunities to promote healthy longevity.

This Special Issue will advance our understanding of frailty, function, and well-being in community-dwelling older adults, paying particular attention to physical, cognitive, psychological, social, lifestyle, and environmental determinants. We welcome studies examining risk and protective factors, longitudinal trajectories, cross-national comparisons, and innovative preventive interventions that reflect real-world community and primary care contexts.

We invite original research articles and reviews that deepen scientific insights and contribute to evidence-based practice and policy for ensuring healthy ageing.

Dr. Weida Lyu
Dr. Shangjun Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Ageing and Longevity is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • intrinsic capacity
  • physical function
  • cognitive function
  • community-dwelling older adults
  • social frailty
  • well-being
  • healthy ageing

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 261 KB  
Article
Functional Classification Framework Associated with Fall and Frailty Vulnerability in Community-Dwelling Adults Aged 50 Years and Older
by Josivaldo de Souza-Lima, Sandra Mahecha-Matsudo, João Pedro da Silva-Junior, Timóteo Leandro-Araujo, Maribel Parra-Saldias, Daniel Duclos-Bastias, Andrés Godoy-Cumillaf, Eugenio Merellano-Navarro, José Bruneau-Chávez and Claudio Farias-Valenzuela
J. Ageing Longev. 2026, 6(3), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/jal6030054 - 8 Jul 2026
Viewed by 315
Abstract
Background: Early identification of fall and frailty risk is essential for preventing disability and maintaining functional independence in older adults. Although simple functional assessments are widely used in community settings, their combined application as a classification approach in large real-world populations remains limited. [...] Read more.
Background: Early identification of fall and frailty risk is essential for preventing disability and maintaining functional independence in older adults. Although simple functional assessments are widely used in community settings, their combined application as a classification approach in large real-world populations remains limited. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 2979 community-dwelling adults (67.6 ± 8.3 years) enrolled in a municipal physical activity program. Participants underwent standardized assessments of gait speed, handgrip strength, and balance. A composite fall/frailty risk classification was defined using established functional cut-offs. Associations between functional variables and risk classification were examined using correlation analyses and group comparisons. Results: Overall, 45% of participants were classified as high risk. Women showed a higher prevalence compared to men (47% vs. 35%). Lower gait speed (r = −0.56), reduced handgrip strength (r = −0.32), and shorter balance time (r = −0.47) were significantly associated with higher risk classification (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: Functional performance measures are strongly associated with a composite classification of fall and frailty risk. These findings support the use of simple, scalable screening tools in community and primary care settings to identify vulnerable older adults and inform early intervention strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frailty, Function, and Well-Being in Community-Dwelling Older Adults)
14 pages, 1244 KB  
Article
Investigation of the Influential Attributes on Subjective Economic Status and Life Satisfaction of Korean Middle-Aged Using the Korean Longitudinal Study of Elderly Employment (KLoEE) Data
by Min Gyung Kim and Joonho Moon
J. Ageing Longev. 2026, 6(2), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/jal6020040 - 12 May 2026
Viewed by 550
Abstract
This study examines the determinants of subjective economic status and life satisfaction among Korean middle-aged individuals, defined as those between 45 and 57 years old. The research explores the impact of eating out expenses, clothing expenses, employment status, and physical exercise on these [...] Read more.
This study examines the determinants of subjective economic status and life satisfaction among Korean middle-aged individuals, defined as those between 45 and 57 years old. The research explores the impact of eating out expenses, clothing expenses, employment status, and physical exercise on these factors. Data is drawn from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Elderly Employment (KLoEE) for the year 2022, with a sample size of 4392 observations. To test the research hypotheses, quadratic multiple regression analysis was employed. The findings reveal that subjective economic status is significantly influenced by both eating out and clothing expenses, exhibiting an inverted-U-shaped effect. Additionally, an inverted U-shaped relationship between clothing expenses and life satisfaction was also observed. Employment had a positive effect on subjective economic status but a negative impact on life satisfaction. Furthermore, regular physical exercise was found to influence both subjective economic status and life satisfaction positively. The study concludes that subjective economic status positively affects life satisfaction among the Korean middle-aged population. This research contributes to the literature by identifying key behavioral characteristics of this demographic in Korea and discussing relevant policy implications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frailty, Function, and Well-Being in Community-Dwelling Older Adults)
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14 pages, 483 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Psychometric Properties of the Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire (SMAQ) in Albanian Older Adults with Complex Chronic Conditions
by Brunilda Subashi, Fatjona Kamberi and Erlini Kokalla
J. Ageing Longev. 2026, 6(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/jal6020036 - 28 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 862
Abstract
Background: Medication adherence is essential for effective management of chronic conditions, particularly among older adults with complex chronic conditions (CCCs). The Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire (SMAQ) is a brief self-report instrument widely used to assess adherence; however, its psychometric properties have not been [...] Read more.
Background: Medication adherence is essential for effective management of chronic conditions, particularly among older adults with complex chronic conditions (CCCs). The Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire (SMAQ) is a brief self-report instrument widely used to assess adherence; however, its psychometric properties have not been evaluated in Albanian older populations. Objective: To assess the psychometric properties of the SMAQ in Albanian older adults with CCCs. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted among 727 adults aged ≥65 years with two or more chronic conditions recruited from primary healthcare centers in southern Albania. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s ω. Construct validity was evaluated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and correlations with clinical and behavioral variables. Discriminative validity was examined using known-group approach and independent samples t-tests, and criterion validity was assessed using Spearman correlations. Results: The SMAQ demonstrated good internal consistency (α = 0.799, ω = 0.821). Factor analyses supported a unidimensional structure, with all items loading significantly onto a single factor. Model fit indices indicated acceptable fit (CFI = 0.921; SRMR = 0.051), although RMSEA suggested some misfit (0.116). Non-adherent participants had significantly higher SMAQ scores than adherent participants (p < 0.001), indicating strong discriminative validity. Conclusions: The SMAQ is a reliable and valid tool for assessing medication adherence among Albanian older adults with CCCs, supporting its use in primary healthcare and research settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frailty, Function, and Well-Being in Community-Dwelling Older Adults)
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Review

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18 pages, 457 KB  
Review
Factors Affecting Well-Being Among Retired Older Adults: An Umbrella Review
by Yasin M. Yasin, Areej Al-Hamad, Kateryna Metersky, Emily Read, Rachel Merrithew, Lily Ann Marie Glazier, Christina Mclean and Richelle Witherspoon
J. Ageing Longev. 2026, 6(3), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/jal6030058 - 29 Jul 2026
Viewed by 187
Abstract
Retirement is a major later-life transition, yet existing reviews have often examined selected dimensions of well-being rather than integrating evidence across physical, mental, social, financial and spiritual or meaning-related domains. This umbrella review synthesised systematic review evidence on factors and interventions influencing well-being [...] Read more.
Retirement is a major later-life transition, yet existing reviews have often examined selected dimensions of well-being rather than integrating evidence across physical, mental, social, financial and spiritual or meaning-related domains. This umbrella review synthesised systematic review evidence on factors and interventions influencing well-being among retired older adults. Following Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and Preferred Reporting Items for Overviews of Reviews guidance, five databases were searched for systematic reviews published from 2015 onward. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251158970). Screening, quality appraisal and data extraction were completed independently by two reviewers, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. Eleven systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. Findings showed that retirement well-being is multidimensional and context-dependent, shaped by social participation, physical health, psychological resources, retirement preparation, voluntary retirement, financial security and meaningful engagement. Social participation and social integration were among the most consistent determinants, while financial and spiritual or meaning-related well-being were less frequently examined. Intervention evidence was limited and focused mainly on physical activity, health behaviours and volunteerism. Retirement well-being is influenced by interacting personal, social and structural factors, highlighting the need for multidimensional interventions and more consistent measurement across well-being domains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frailty, Function, and Well-Being in Community-Dwelling Older Adults)
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