Community is important for late-midlife adults, offering a sense of belonging and opportunities for social engagement during the transition to older age. The current study examines perceptions of community and geographical ties among a sample of older adults aging in place. Using data from the Foley Longitudinal Study of Adulthood (FLSA; N = 163; aged 61–64) and a qualitative GIS approach, major themes were categorized and mapped to create a comprehensive picture of how perceptions of community varied among respondents and neighborhoods. Core themes were connections to place, space, people, and relational benefits gained from community involvement. Residents of a suburban enclave more frequently noted connections to people as being important to community, compared to residents in more densely-populated areas. Implications for future research are discussed.

社区对于中年晚期的成年人很重要，可以在向老年过渡期间提供归属感和社会参与机会。目前的研究调查了就地老龄化的老年人样本对社区和地理联系的看法。使用 Foley 成人纵向研究（FLSA；N = 163；年龄 61-64）的数据和定性 GIS 方法，对主要主题进行分类和绘制，以全面了解受访者和社区对社区的看法如何变化。核心主题是与地点、空间、人员的联系以及从社区参与中获得的关系利益。与人口稠密地区的居民相比，郊区飞地的居民更频繁地认为人与人之间的联系对社区很重要。讨论了对未来研究的影响。