Publications

Learn more about our Age-Friendly Communities projects here

Greenfield, E. A., Scher, C. J., Pope, N. E., & Amir Koren, U. (2025). Aging equity and diversity as part of age-friendly community practice in the United States. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2025.2470254

Greenfield, E. A., & Pope, N. E. (2025). “It made me change the way I do business”: Outcomes from age-friendly community initiatives as systems change. The Gerontologist, 65(1), gnae149. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnae149

Greenfield, E. A., Scher, C. J., Pope, N. E., & Amir Koren, U. (2025). Aging equity and diversity as part of age-friendly community practice in the United States. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2025.2470254

Cao, Q., Pope, N., & Greenfield, E. (2024). “I’m part of something that matters”: Exploring what older adults value through their engagement in. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2024.2339971

Pope, N. E., Greenfield, E. A. (co-first authors), Keyes, L., & Russell, E. (2024). A review of public sector engagement in age-friendly community initiatives. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2024.2376934

Yeh, J., Greenfield and, E. A., & Plasencia, M. Z. (2024). Dismantling and rebuilding praxis for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: Towards an emancipatory approach (pp. 204–228). In Reimagining Age-Friendly Communities. Bristol, UK: Policy Press. https://doi.org/10.51952/9781447368571.ch011

Pestine-Stevens, A., Greenfield, E. A., Pope, N. E., Carniol, R., & Rowe, C. (2023). Statewide age-friendly virtual fair as a tactic for social change across the aging ecosystem. Journal of Gerontological Social Work. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2023.2237098 

Pope, N.E., & Greenfield, E.A. (2023, November). A curated orientation to age-friendly literature. In K. Black (Chair), Age-friendly 101: How to connect your work and advance your age-friendly community scholarship and practice. Pre-Conference Workshop conducted at the annual meeting of The Gerontological Society of America, Tampa, FL. https://go.rutgers.edu/rutgersAFCworkshop23

Greenfield, E. A., Black, K., Oh, P., & Pestine-Stevens, A. (2022). Theories of community collaboration to advance age-friendly community change. The Gerontologist, 62(1), 36-45. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnab136 

Greenfield, E. A, & Buffel, T. (2022). Age-friendly cities and communities: Research to strengthen policy and practice. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 34(2), 161-174. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2022.2049573 

Pestine-Stevens, A., & Greenfield, E. A. (2022). Giving, receiving, and doing together: Interorganizational interactions in age-friendly community initiatives. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 34(2), 218-236. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2021.2024412

Greenfield, E. A., Pestine-Stevens, A., & Scher, C. (2022). Responding to local needs by mobilizing community assets: Age-friendly community initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gerontologist, 62(10), 1431–1442. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnac070

Greenfield, E. A., & Reyes, L. (2022) (alphabetical order). Characterizing older adults’ engagement in age-friendly community initiatives: Perspectives from core group leaders in the Northeast U.S. Ageing & Society, 46(2), 1465-1484. https://doi.org/S0144686X2000166X 

Pope, N. E., & Greenfield, E. (2022). Community events as part of age-friendly community practice. Journal of Community Practice, 30(03), 299–318. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705422.2022.2106526

Greenfield, E. A, (2018). Age-friendly initiatives, social inequalities, and spatial justice. In N. Berlinger (Ed.), What makes a good life in later life?: Citizenship and justice in aging societies. Invited essay for a collection prepared by The Hastings Center. https://doi.org/10.1002/hast.912

Greenfield, E. A. (2018). Getting started: An empirically derived logic model for age-friendly community initiatives in the early planning phase. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 61(3), 295-312. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2018.1432736 

Lehning, A. J., & Greenfield, E. A. (2017). Research on age-friendly community initiatives: Taking stock and moving forward. Journal of Housing for the Elderly, 31(2), 178-192. https://doi.org/10.1080/02763893.2017.1309937

Greenfield, E. A. (2015). Healthy aging and age-friendly community initiatives. Public Policy & Aging Report, 25(2), 43-46. https://doi.org/10.1093/ppar/prov002

Greenfield, E. A., Oberlink, M., Scharlach, A. E., Neal, M. B., & Stafford, P. B. (2015). Age-friendly community initiatives: Conceptual issues and key questions. The Gerontologist, 55(2), 191-198. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnv005 (Also featured by the Oxford University Press at http://blog.oup.com/2015/08/age-friendly-community-initiatives.)

Learn more about our Aging & Health Services Research branch here

Akincigil, A., Bhagianadh, D., Scher, C. J., Somerville, C., Coyle, C., Pope, N. E., & Greenfield, E. A. (2024). Dementia-focused programs in older adult centers and health care use among individuals with dementia. Health Affairs Scholar, 2(9), qxae108. https://doi.org/10.1093/haschl/qxae108

Bhagianadh, D. & Arora, K. (2023). Classifying end-of-life patterns: Evidence from the National Health and Aging Trends Study. The Gerontologist, 63(6), 1039–1048, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnac160

George, L.S., Epstein, R.M., Akincigil, A. et al. (2023) Psychological Determinants of Physician Variation in End-of-Life Treatment Intensity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis. The Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38, 1516–1525 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-022-08011-4

Prioli, K, Akincigil, A., Namvar, T., et al. (2023). Addressing racial inequality and its effects on vaccination rate: A trial comparing a pharmacist and peer educational program (MOTIVATE) in diverse older adults. Journal of Managed Care & Speciality Pharmacy, 29(8), 970-980. https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2023.29.8.97

Bhagianadh, D., & Arora, K. (2022). COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among community-dwelling older adults: The role of information sources. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 41(1), 4-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648211037507

Akincigil, A., & Greenfield, E. A. (2020). Housing plus services, IADL impairment and healthcare expenditures among residents of senior housing: Evidence from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. The Gerontologist, 60(1), 22-31. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gny181

Learn more about our Dementia-Friendly Communities projects here

Reyes, L., Scher, C., & Greenfield, E. A., (2023). Participatory approaches within research on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias: A scoping review. Innovation in Aging. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad091 

Scher, C. J., & Greenfield, E. A. (co-first authors) (2023). Variation in implementing dementia-friendly community initiatives: Advancing theory for social change. Geriatrics, 8, 45. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics8020045

Scher, C., Somerville, C., Greenfield, E. A., & Coyle, C. (2023). Organizational characteristics of senior centers and engagement in dementia-friendly communities. Innovation in Aging. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad050 

Scher, C., & Greenfield, E. A. (2022). Dementia-friendly community initiatives: Voices from practice leaders in Massachusetts (pp. 1–27). Rutgers University. https://go.rutgers.edu/DementiaFriendlyCommunityInitiatives

Learn more about our Villages, NORCs, and Other Community Models projects here (link forthcoming)

Akinci gil, A., & Greenfield, E. A. (2020). Housing plus services, IADL impairment and healthcare expenditures among residents of senior housing: Evidence from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. The Gerontologist, 60(1), 22-31. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gny181

Greenfield, E. A. (2019). Advancing program theory for licensed assisted living services in independent housing. Journal of Housing for the Elderly, 33(3), 257-274. https://doi.org/10.1080/02763893.2018.1561593

Greenfield, E. A., Black, K., Buffel, T., & Yeh, J. (2019). Community gerontology: A framework for research, policy, and practice. The Gerontologist, 59(5), 803-810. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gny089

Scharlach, A. E., Lehning, A. J., Graham, C. L., & Greenfield, E. A. (2019). Organizational characteristics associated with the sustainability of Villages. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 38(5), 694-716. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817690676

Davitt, J. K., Greenfield, E. A., Lehning, A. J., & Scharlach, A. E. (2017). Challenges to engaging diverse participants in community-based aging in place initiatives. Journal of Community Practice, 25(3-4), 325-343. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705422.2017.1354346 

Greenfield, E. A., & Maudlin, R. (2017). Participation in community activities through NORC Supportive Service Programs. Ageing & Society, 37(10), 1987-2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X16000702

Greenfield, E. A. (2016). Support from neighbors and aging in place: Can NORC programs make a difference? The Gerontologist, 56(4), 651-659. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnu162

Greenfield, E. A., & Frantz, M. E. (2016). Sustainability processes among Naturally Occurring Retirement Community Supportive Service Programs. Journal of Community Practice, 24(16), 38-55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705422.2015.1126545

Greenfield, E. A., Scharlach, A. E., & Davitt, J. K. (2016). Organizational characteristics and volunteering in age-friendly supportive service initiatives. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 45(5), 931-948. https://doi.org/10.1177/0899764015621620

Davitt, J. K., Lehning, A. J., Scharlach, A. E., & Greenfield, E. A. (2015). Sociopolitical and cultural contexts of emerging community-based models in aging: The Village initiative. Public Policy & Aging Report, 1, 15-19. https://doi.org/10.1093/ppar/pru055

Greenfield, E. A., & Fedor, J. P. (2015). Characterizing older adults’ involvement in Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) Supportive Service Programs. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 58(5), 449-468. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2015.1008168

Greenfield, E. A., & Reyes, L.* (2014). Continuity and change in relationships with neighbors: Implications for well-being in middle and later life. Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences,70(4), 607-618. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbu084

Scharlach, A. E., Davitt, J.K., Lehning, A.J., Greenfield, E. A., & Graham, C.L. (2014). Does the Village model help to foster age-friendly communities? Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 26(1-2-1), 181-196. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2014.854664 

Greenfield, E. A. (2013). Community aging initiatives and social capital: Developing theories of change in the context of NORC Supportive Service Programs. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 33(2), 227-250. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464813497994

Greenfield, E. A. (2013). The longevity of community aging initiatives: A framework for describing NORC programs’ sustainability goals and strategies. Journal of Housing for the Elderly, 27 (1/2), 120-145. https://doi.org/10.1080/02763893.2012.754818 

Greenfield, E. A., Scharlach, A., Lehning, A., Davitt, J., & Graham, C. (2013). A tale of two community initiatives for promoting aging in place: Similarities and differences in the national implementation of NORC programs and Villages. The Gerontologist, 53, 928-938. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnt035

Greenfield, E. A. (2012). Using ecological frameworks to advance a field of research, policy, and practice on aging-in-place initiatives. The Gerontologist, 52(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnr108 

Greenfield, E. A., Scharlach, A., Lehning, A., & Davitt, J. (2012). A conceptual framework for examining the promise of the NORC Program and Village models to promote aging in place. Journal of Aging Studies, 26(3), 273-284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aging.2012.01.003 

Learn more about our Childhood Social Inequalities projects here (link forthcoming)

Reynolds, A., Greenfield, E. A., & Nepomnyaschy, L. (2024). Disparate benefits of higher childhood socioeconomic status on cognition in young adulthood by intersectional social positions. Advances in Life Course Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alcr.2024.100608

Reynolds, A., & Greenfield, E. A. (2023). Diminished returns of higher parental education on cognition for Black adults in middle and later life. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbad181

Reynolds, A., Greenfield, E. A., & Butler-Williams, A. (2023). Early life adversity, childhood socioeconomic status, and race: Intersecting drivers of later life cognition. Journal of Aging & Mental Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2023.2242296 

Reynolds, A., Greenfield, E. A., Moorman, S. M., & Reyes, L. (2022). Race, childhood socioeconomic status, and region of childhood residence as intersectional life course predictors of cognitive aging in the U.S. Innovation on Aging. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igac020  (Featured in Rutgers Today at https://bit.ly/3PD2suw.)

Greenfield, E. A., Reynolds, A., & Moorman, S. M. (2022). Life course linkages between early-life enriching activities and later life cognition: Evidence from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. Social Science & Medicine (294), 114673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114673

Moorman, S. M., Greenfield, E. A., & Carr, K. (2021). Using mixture modelling to construct subgroups of cognitive aging in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 76(8), 1512-1522. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaa191

Greenfield, E. A. (2020). Designing retrospective measures on childhood for older African American adults. International Journal of Aging and Human Development. Advance online access. https://doi.org/10.1177.0091415019887683

Greenfield, E. A., Akincigil, A., & Moorman, S. M. (2020). Is college completion associated with better cognition in later life for people who are the least, or most, likely to obtain a bachelor’s degree? Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 75(6), 1286-1291. Advance online access. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbz132

Greenfield, E. A., Moorman, S. M., & Rieger, A. (2020). Life course processes from childhood socioeconomic status to later-life cognition: Evidence from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological and Social Sciences, 76(6), 1206-1217.https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaa062

Moorman, S. M., Lee, C., & Greenfield, E. A. (2020). Perceived hearing loss, social disengagement, and declines in memory. Journal of Applied Gerontology. Advance online access. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464820909244

Greenfield, E. A., & Moorman, S. M. (2019). Childhood socioeconomic status and later life cognition: Evidence from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. Journal of Aging and Health, 31(9), 1589-1615.https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264318783489

Moorman, S. M., Greenfield, E. A., & Garcia, S. (2019). School context in adolescence and cognitive functioning 50 years later. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 60(4), 493–508. https://doi.org/10.1177/022146519887354

Moorman, S. M., Carr, K., & Greenfield, E. A. (2018). Childhood socioeconomic status and genetic risk for poorer cognition in later life. Social Science & Medicine, 212, 219-226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2018/07.025

Greenfield, E. A., & Moorman, S. M. (2016). Extracurricular involvement in high school and participation in voluntary associations across the life course. Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 73(3), 482-491. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbw168