SIGNIFICANCE OF MOBILITY FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE ELDERLY

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to integrate information about the mobility of older adults with that on their well-being and the quality of their lives. Toward that end, the literature on human adaptation and the gerontological literature on emotional and social well-being are reviewed, and a conceptual model is derived from knowledge about the meaning, determinants, and dynamics of well-being among the elderly. Then studies on their mobility are reviewed within the framework of the model. Qualities of mobility that influence its effects on well-being are presented. These include feasibility, safety, and personal control. Studies of each major transportation mode are reviewed in terms of these qualities, and modes are compared on them. Other variables affecting the qualities of mobility (the person's socioeconomic status, physical characteristics of the site, and transportation technology) are discussed as moderators in the model. The final section of the paper presents conclusions and recommendations for research.