Age-Friendly as Tranquilo Ambiente: How Sociocultural Perspectives Shape the Lived Environment of Latinx Older Adults

Abstract

Abstract Background and Objectives Researchers have increasingly considered the importance of age-friendly communities to improve the health and well-being of older adults. Studies have primarily focused on the built environment, such as community infrastructure, older adult behavior, and environmental expectations. Less is known about the role of cultural characteristics in shaping perceptions of age-friendly environments, especially among racial and ethnic minorities. Research Design and Methods Using an ethnographic methodological approach, including participant observation in a Latinx community near New York City and 72 semistructured interviews, this study examines how older Latinxs characterize age-friendly communities. Results Latinx older adults described their community as age-friendly through the concept Tranquilo Ambiente, translated as a calm or peaceful environment. More specifically, Tranquilo Ambiente includes (a) a sense of perceived personal safety, (b) ethnic and social connectedness, and (c) spatial and cultural accessibility. Discussion and Implications This study extends prior research that has largely considered structural or economic components to show how culture may also influence the well-being of older Latinxs, even if living in an underresourced area. The concept of Tranquilo Ambiente demonstrates that both structural and cultural environmental factors influence older Latinxs’ understandings of age-friendly communities. By utilizing a sociocultural lens, this research highlights how Latinx older adults benefit from an environment that supports their physical (e.g., well-lit and newly paved streets), social (e.g., city hall senior center), and cultural (e.g., events and programs that promote cultural heritage) needs.