Introduction:
The proportion of people aged 65 and over has been increasing. However, the number of years lived without disease has not increased in the same proportion. In this sense, one of the great challenges is to provide active aging, that is, the development and maintenance of functional capacity that allows well-being at advanced ages. The promotion of active aging also aims the quality of life and safety of elderly people, where the ability to mobilize and its relationship with falls play a relevant role due to impact on people's lives, but it’s also important to consider the role that society plays in promoting conditions for the mobility of older people. This definition calls attention to functional capacity, which is central to active aging. Functional capacity concerns physical capacity, but includes the characteristics of environment and individual's interaction with the environment in which they are integrated.

Objective:
The present study was developed in order to characterize the active aging of people over 65 years in Portugal and its relation with elderly safety. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Portuguese population aged 65 and over. The sample was random with national representativeness in which about 600 people participated. Data were collected through the application of a survey where socio-demographic, health, and well-being data were recorded. These data were analyzed using statistical software, with descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis results being presented. Results Study results show that 52.2% were male and that participants had an average age of 73 years. The results also revealed that around 80% of respondents agree or fully agree that being able to walk freely without disability or physical limitation and around 90% that performing physical activity or exercise on a regular basis supports active aging. In relation to the environment, 93% agree or fully agree that participation in volunteer activities and don’t feel loneliness support active aging, and 95% agree or fully agree that participation in community activities supports active aging.

Conclusion:
In order to promote safety for older people it’s relevant to promote safer communities that increase activities for the elderly namely physical activities and community activities. This study also reveals that a high percentage of people 65 years old refer that the ability to walk and perform physical activity are facilitators of active aging, which supports the idea of safe communities for active aging.

Keyword: Aging; Safe; Communities; Environment; Mobility