The Urban Built Environment and Mobility in Older Adults: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Mobility restrictions in older adults are common and increase the likelihood of negative health outcomes and premature mortality. The effect of built environment on mobility in older populations, among whom environmental effects may be strongest, is the focus of a growing body of the literature. We reviewed recent research (1990–2010) that examined associations of objective measures of the built environment with mobility and disability in adults aged 60 years or older. Seventeen empirical articles were identified. The existing literature suggests that mobility is associated with higher street connectivity leading to shorter pedestrian distances, street and traffic conditions such as safety measures, and proximity to destinations such as retail establishments, parks, and green spaces. Existing research is limited by differences in exposure and outcome assessments and use of cross-sectional study designs. This research could lead to policy interventions that allow older adults to live more healthy and active lives in their communities.

Destinations matter: The association between where older adults live and their travel behavior

“…The built environment, defined as urban design, land use, and transportation systems (Handy et al, 2002), is an important environment-level determinant of older adults' mobility. Built environment features most consistently associated with older adults' mobility include street connectivity and street and traffic conditions that promote pedestrian safety; destinations may also play an important role (Rosso et al, 2011). According to travel demand theory, travel is a "derived" demand, which means that individuals are typically mobile in order to reach destinations (Crane, 1996).…”

Participation in urban life and obstacles for mobility of the elderly in Łódź

“…As for other reasons which limit possible urban activities, such factors as imperfect urban design (pavements, street furniture etc.) and land use (density and land-use mix), difficulties in navigating around the city, individual disabilities, fear of becoming a victim of a crime and digital exclusion of the elderly are mentioned (Day 2008;Beard & Petitot 2010;Andersson 2011;Rosso et al 2011;Kaczmarczyk 2014;Zrałek 2014 and others). Moreover, negative phenomena affecting community attachment and belonging might also contribute to reducing the quality of life of senior dwellers (Phillipson 2007).…”

Validation of the "Life Space Assessment - LSA" Questionnaire in a group of hemiplegic patients

“…6 This mobility should be considered as an interaction between functional ability (activities and participation) and external factors (socioeconomic and environmental). 7 The Life-Space Assessment (LSA) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging is a tool that evaluates the mobility of individuals on five levels (from inside their residences to outside of the city), based on the distance traveled, weekly frequency, and independence on locomotion, 8 regardless of how the locomotion is performed. Correlations were found between the LSA scores and age, state of health, environmental factors, social factors, cognition, physical performance, and mortality.…”