Age-Friendly Innovation Center

A program of The Ohio State University College of Social Work, we improve social, built and service environments that support livability for people of all ages and abilities.

Older person with a yellow headband on a bus talking to a younger person

Marisa Sheldon talking to a person outdoors sitting on a bench

Person in a blue jacket being interviewed for the AFIC

Team

Research

Contact

Mission

To innovate with older adults through research, education, and engagement to make our communities age-friendly.

Since 2016, Age-Friendly has:

4,800+

Engagements with older adults through focus groups, interviews, and walk audits.

200+

Students have worked with the Age-Friendly Innovation Center.

20,000

Attendees at AFIC presentations across local, national, and international meetings.

Group of individuals, including a person in a wheelchair and a person with a service dog, standing together in front of a large government building, representing inclusivity and community engagement.

Principles

AFIC is committed to a set of principles that guide and ground the work of the Center.

Striving Towards Culture Competence
Accessibility
Community Engagement
Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Areas of Commitment

Featured Media

View all media

/cdn/Applegate and Singleton conduct an interview

Aging Well, Aging Together (opens in a new tab)

Learn more about Age-Friendly Innovation Center Assistant Director, Christine Happel and their work on the Aging Well, Aging Together study in collaboration with the College of Public Health.

5-minute read • cph.osu.edu (opens in a new tab)

/cdn/AFIC, COAAA, and o4a members with Partnership Award

Age-Friendly Innovation Center Wins Partnership Award! (opens in a new tab)

Partnership Award: Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging and The Ohio State University College of
Social Work’s Age-Friendly Innovation Center This partnership has advanced research and innovation on housing insecurity and emergency preparedness for older adults and people with disabilities,” said Patton. “Their work has produced valuable data, toolkits, and pilot projects that are informing policy and practice statewide.”

2-minute read • ohioaging.org (opens in a new tab)

/cdn/A multi-generational group sitting at the bus shelter at the Mobility Assessment Center.

Travel training with AFIC and COTA helps students, older adults alike (opens in a new tab)

As part of the America Walks’ Week Without Driving, the Age-Friendly Innovation Center (AFIC) brought their Autumn 2025 Scholars Cohort and members of the AFIC resident council to the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) for a travel training.

5-minute read • news.osu.edu (opens in a new tab)

Scholar Alumni Highlights

View all highlights

Yasmine Kadimi-Skalli (’24) (opens in a new tab)

Skalli arrives at ISR after completing her bachelor’s degree in social and environmental geography at Ohio State University. During her time at OSU, she completed an independent research project examining the community development and place-making practices of Muslims in Detroit.

May 28, 2025 • Institute for Social Research University of Michigan (opens in a new tab)

Anna Sheeran (’23) (opens in a new tab)

Please say hi to our incredible 2024-2025 fellows with the House MInority Caucus (Ohio House Dems)!

March 31, 2025 • facebook.com (opens in a new tab)

Karina Burck (’22) (opens in a new tab)

Host Site: Community Housing Network
School: The Ohio State University
Major: Policy Analysis, City & Regional Planning

November 30, -0001 • tcfsummerfellows.blog (opens in a new tab)