GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Site Suitability Analysis for Elderly Care Residential Facilities in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Nigeria

The rapid growth of the elderly population, coupled with accelerated urban expansion in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), has created increasing demand for well-located elderly care residential facilities (ERFs). This study applies a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to identify suitable locations for ERFs in AMAC. Siting criteria covering accessibility, proximity to healthcare services, environmental quality, safety, and socio-demographic factors were derived from literature, expert opinion, and field-based insights. These criteria were standardized and weighted using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and subsequently integrated through a weighted linear combination (WLC). Constraint layers representing incompatible land uses were incorporated to refine the final suitability output. The results show that proximity to healthcare facilities (47.00%) and elderly population density (24.10%) are the most influential criteria. The suitability analysis revealed that though most of the area were not suitable, 29.40% (391.31 km²) are suitable and 5.99% (79.70 km²) are most suitable for siting elderly care facilities in AMAC. The validation of results using existing facility locations further supports the reliability of the model. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of GISbased MCDA as a decision-support tool for elderly care planning and provides a spatial framework to guide policymakers and urban planners for improved accessibility and quality of life among the elderly population.