Locating community-based comprehensive service facilities for older adults using the GIS-NEMA method in Harbin, China

Local governments and scholars in China have recently proposed and developed community-based comprehensive service facilities for older adults in response to population aging and greater service needs of older adults in urban areas. This study proposes a method to identify the ideal distribution of such facilities by combining the nested ecological model of aging in place as the theoretical foundation with a geographic information system as the methodological tool. The findings indicate that many essential services, particularly health care and places for socialization, are lacking in urban areas when walkability and accessibility to public services are considered. The findings also indicate that the downtown and main factory areas with higher population density have a higher need for developing community-based comprehensive services facilities for older adults. The proposed method shows strong potential for locating service networks and provides useful information for policy development, urban planning, and architectural programming.