By Marla Berg-Weger, Ph.D., LCSW / Dean, School for Professional Studies Saint Louis University - As professionals committed to better serving those members of our society who are living longer and/or living with a progressive disability, practitioners and researchers can benefit from knowledge and tools to aid these populations in maintaining optimal independence and quality of life. Mobility is but one key factor in the individual’s ability to maintain autonomy. With input from practitioners and older adults, researchers can develop clinical tools for assessment and intervention that may be used by practitioners to help older adults and those living with a disability and her/his support network identify and understand the space in which they live, the impact of that perception on mobility and strategies for responding to life circumstances that may result in changes to mobility.

Research on mobility for older adults and persons with disabilities has provided a solid foundation for understanding mobility and its change from the perspective of the functional issues, needs and alternatives. While researchers have investigated the motivational aspects of behavior change, none have yet to explore the emotional aspects of defining the spaces in which the individual lives and the transition to a change in mobility. Life space is conceptualized as a reflection of values, attitudes and needs of people, separate from the specific functional aspects of being mobile. A measure designed to capture the personal meanings and emotional aspects related to anticipated life space mobility changes can add a new element of knowledge and assessment to the research, policy and practice communities. Having tools to facilitate assessment and intervention can serve to strengthen the concept of a mobility management infrastructure as an attempt to provide a network of viable alternatives for those experiencing change in mobility. While much is known about how senior adults maintain their mobility, little is known about their attitudes and feelings regarding those changes that occur in mobility-related areas. Practitioners need to better understand the impact that mobility change has on the older adults with whom they work. Such information is important to help older adults maintain as much independence, mobility and quality of life as possible.

Using a person-centered approach, a group of St. Louis researchers are examining issues of life space mobility for older adults and the personal meanings and emotions related to changes in mobility. With funding from the National Center for Senior Transportation and Easter Seals, Drs. Thomas M. Meuser (University of Missouri-St. Louis) and Marla Berg-Weger and John T. Chibnall (Saint Louis University) are conducting a research project that utilizes input from older adults to develop an assessment tool for practitioners to determine mobility status and needs.

In the first phase of the project, the researchers conducted focus groups comprised of community-dwelling adults, age 55 and older with and without disabilities, about the perceptions, meanings, and emotions they have regarding their present mobility within their life space and the prospect of future changes/losses in mobility. Preliminary findings suggest attitudes concerning mobility preparedness vary based on disability level and personal experience. Fear of dependence from future mobility loss was prominent in all groups. Those who had witnessed the impact of mobility loss in others were somewhat more likely to endorse taking steps to plan for future changes. Those already struggling with mobility changes due to physical decline emphasized a need to prioritize activities and otherwise find meaning closer to home. Healthy participants emphasized the importance of driving for remaining active and independent. Most participants had not yet engaged in significant thinking/planning around mobility; for most, it was a new topic and they expressed gratitude for having participated in a group.

Utilizing the information provided by the focus group members, the research team is developing the Person-Centered Mobility Preparedness Inventory (PCMPI). The PCMPI is designed to assess at least four key dimensions of mobility preparedness: congruity, immediacy, perceived threat, and openness to change.

In order to develop a valid measurement tool for use by practitioners and researchers, 300 older adult volunteers are needed to complete a written questionnaire. Adults age 60 or older who reside in their own home, condo, or rented apartment interested in completing a questionnaire may volunteer by contacting Kim Johnson at 314/516-5280. A questionnaire will be mailed to the participant’s home.