A study investigating the travel habits and preferences of older Australian adults with a falls risk
Corresponding Author
Annie McCluskey
Community Based Health Care Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney (Cumberland Campus), Lidcombe; and Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney, Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
Dr Annie McCluskey, Community Based Health Care Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorAndrew Thurtell
Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
AT was an occupational therapy honours student, in the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences at the University of Western Sydney when this research was conducted.
Search for more papers by this authorLindy Clemson
Discipline of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney (Cumberland Campus), Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorHal Kendig
Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Annie McCluskey
Community Based Health Care Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney (Cumberland Campus), Lidcombe; and Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney, Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
Dr Annie McCluskey, Community Based Health Care Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorAndrew Thurtell
Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
AT was an occupational therapy honours student, in the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences at the University of Western Sydney when this research was conducted.
Search for more papers by this authorLindy Clemson
Discipline of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney (Cumberland Campus), Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorHal Kendig
Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Aim: To investigate the travel habits and preferences of city-dwelling older Australians with a falls risk, and factors influencing outings.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional survey was conducted with 96 community-dwelling adults with a falls risk.
Results: The mean age of participants was 78.2 years (SD 5.33). The majority were women (77%). Most (75%) went on five or more outings per week (mean 6.9 outings). Men drove more than women (41% vs 31%). Shopping was the most common reason for outings. Walking was the most frequent mode of travel, and buses were both the easiest and most difficult. Factors that enabled bus travel included bus stop location, good services and cheap fares. Primary reasons for restricting outings were poor health, transport barriers, neighbourhood safety and personal motivation.
Conclusion: These older adults went out nearly every day. Findings can be used to improve transport services for older people.
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