Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-r6qrq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T15:59:11.344Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

12 - Resilience in mobility in the context of chronic disease and aging:

cross-sectional and prospective findings from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Study of Aging

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 December 2010

By
Patricia Sawyer  and
Richard M. Allman
Edited by
Prem S. Fry  and
Corey L. M. Keyes
Prem S. Fry
Affiliation:
Trinity Western University, British Columbia
Corey L. M. Keyes
Affiliation:
Emory University, Atlanta
Get access

Summary

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a conceptual basis for using life-space to assess mobility resilience and maintenance of social participation among community dwelling older adults. The Life-Space Assessment (LSA) measures mobility and the geographic scope of participation in society over one month. It reflects distance, frequency, and use of equipment or personal help while ambulating through the environment. An LSA score of 60 or higher defines an unrestricted life-space – a level of mobility and participation that operationalizes resilience among older adults. After reporting results of a qualitative study examining attitudes toward life-space mobility, we report cross-sectional and prospective data from an observational cohort study of community-dwelling older adults. Significant associations between life-space mobility with social participation, as well as specific correlates and predictors of life-space mobility resilience, are defined.

The importance of life-space resilience as a reflection of mobility and social participation among community-dwelling older adults

An important aspect of resilience is the ability to maintain function in the context of chronic disease and age-associated physiological changes. Available data suggest that 80 percent of persons over the age of 65 years have at least one chronic condition and 20 percent have four or more such conditions (Chodosh et al., 2005). Age-associated physiological changes have been well documented in all organ systems (Hazzard et al., 2003).

Type
Chapter
Information
New Frontiers in Resilient Aging
Life-Strengths and Well-Being in Late Life
 , pp. 310 - 339
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allman, R. M., Baker, P. S., Maisiak, R. M., Sims, R. V., and Roseman, J. M. (2004). Racial similarities and differences in predictors of mobility change over eighteen months. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 19, 1118–1126.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Allman, R. M., Sawyer, P., and Roseman, J. M. (2006). The UAB Study of Aging: background and insights into life-space mobility among older Americans in rural and urban settings. Aging Health, 2, 417–429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
,Alabama Rural Health Association. (1998). Health status of rural Alabamians. Montgomery, AL: Alabama Rural Health Association.Google Scholar
Ayis, S., Gooberman-Hill, R., Bowling, A., and Ebraham, S. (2006). Predicting catastrophic decline in mobility among older people, Age Ageing, 35, 382–387.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baker, P. S., and Allman, R. M. (2004). Charting the course: State of Alabama long-term care needs assessment. Retrieved on December 2008 from http://www.aging.uab.edu/SubChannel/Research/pdf/Charting%20the%20Course.pdf
Baker, P. S., Bodner, E. V., and Allman, R. M. (2003). Measuring life-space mobility in community-dwelling older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 51(11), 1610–1614.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Boyd, C. M., Xue, Q.-L., Guralnik, J. M., and Fried, L. P. (2005). Hospitalization and development of dependence in activities of daily living in a cohort of disabled older women: The women's health and aging study I. The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 60(7), 888–893.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cagney, K. A., and Lauderdale, D. S. (2002). Education, wealth, and cognitive function in later life. The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 57,(2), P163–P172.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Charlson, M. E., Sax, F., Mackenzie, C. R., Fields, S. D., Braham, R. L., and Douglas, R. G. (1986). Assessing illness severity: Does clinical judgment work?Journal of Chronic Disease, 6, 439–452.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chodosh, J., Morton, S. C., Mojica, W.et al. (2005). Meta-analysis: Chronic disease self-management programs for older adults. Annals of Internal Medicine, 143, 427–438.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crowe, M., Clay, O. J., Sawyer, P., Crowther, M. R., and Allman, R. M. (2008). Education and reading ability in relation to differences in cognitive screening between African American and Caucasian Older Adults. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 23, 222–223.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dick, M., Teng, E., Kempler, D., David, D., and Taussig, I. (2002). The cross-cultural neuropsychological test battery (CCNB): Effects of age, education, ethnicity, and cognitive status on performance. In Ferraro, F. R. (ed.), Minority and cross-cultural aspects of neuropsychological assessment: Studies on neuropsychology, development, and cognition (pp. 17–41). Bristol, PA: Swets & Zeltlinger.Google Scholar
Erkinjuntti, T., Sulkava, R., Wikström, J., and Autio, L. (1987). Short portable mental status questionnaire as a screening test for dementia and delirium among the elderly. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 35, 412–416.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Field, M. J., Jette, A. M., and Martin, L. (2006). Workshop on disability in America: A new look – summary and background papers. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.Google Scholar
Folstein, M. F., Folstein, S. E., and McHugh, P. R. (1975). “Mini-mental state”. A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 12(3), 189–98.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Giles, L. C., Metcalf, P. A., Glonek, G. F., Luszcz, M. A., and Andrews, G. R. (2004). The effects of social networks on disability in older Australians. Journal of Aging and Health, 16, 517–538.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gill, T. M., Allore, H. B., Hardy, S. E., and Guo, Z. (2006). The dynamic nature of mobility disability in older persons. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 54, 248–254.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gill, T. M., Desai, M. M, Gahbauer, E. A., Holford, T. R., and Williams, C. S. (2001). Restricted activity among community-living older persons: Incidence, precipitants, and health care utilization. Annals of Internal Medicine, 135, 313–321.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Guralnik, J. M., and Ferrucci, L. (2003). Demography and epidemiology. In Hazzard, W. R., Blass, J. P., Halter, J. B., Ouslander, J. G., and Tinetti, M. E. (eds.), Principles of geriatric medicine and gerontology (pp. 53–76). New York: McGraw Hill.Google Scholar
Guralnik, J. M., Simonsick, E. M., Ferrucci, L.et al. (1994). A short physical performance battery assessing lower extremity function: Association with self-reported disability and prediction of mortality and nursing home admission. The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 49, M85–M94.Google Scholar
Hardy, S. E., Dubin, J. A., Holford, T. R., and Gill, T. M. (2005). Transitions between states of disability and independence among older persons. American Journal of Epidemiology, 161, 575–584.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hazzard, W. R., Blass, J. P., Halter, J.Ouslander, J., and Tinetti, M. (2003). Principles of geriatric medicine and gerontology. New York: McGraw Hill.Google Scholar
Hooyman, N. R., and Kiyak, H. A. (2005). Social gerontology: A multidisciplinary perspective. Boston, MA: Pearson Education.Google Scholar
House, J. S., Landis, K. R., and Umberson, D. (1988). Social relationships and health. Science, 241, 540–545.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jette, A. M., Haley, M., Coster, J.et al. (2002). Late life function and disability instrument: I. Development and evaluation of the disability component. The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 57, M209–M216.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kington, R. S., and Smith, J. P. (1997). Socioeconomic status and racial and ethnic differences in functional status associated with chronic diseases. American Journal of Public Health, 87, 805–810.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kovar, M. G. and Lawton, M. P. (1994). Functional disability: Activities and instrumental activities of daily living. Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 14, 57–75Google Scholar
Lindenberger, U., Mayr, U., and Kliegl, R . (1993). Speed and intelligence in old age. Psychology and Aging, 8, 207–220.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Locher, J. L., Ritchie, C. S., Roth, D. L., Baker, P. S., Bodner, E. V., and Allman, R. M. (2005). Social isolation, support, and capital and nutritional risk in an older sample: Ethnic and gender differences. Social Science and Medicine, 60, 747–761.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, M. Y., Powell, M. P., Peel, C., Zhu, S., and Allman, R. M. (2006). Leisure-time physical activity and health care utilization in older adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 14, 392–410.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meenan, R. F., Mason, J. H., Anderson, J. J., Guccione, A. A., and Kazis, L. E. (1992). AIMS2. The content and properties of a revised and expanded arthritis impact measurement scales health status questionnaire. Arthritis and Rheumatism, 35, 1–10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mendes de Leon, C. F., Gold, D. T., Glass, T. A., Kaplain, L., and George, L. K. (2001). Disability as a function of social networks and support in elderly African Americans and Whites: the Duke EPESE 1986–1992. The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Science and Social Science, 56, S179–S190.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Metz, D. H. (2000). Mobility of older people and their quality of life. Transport Policy, 7, 149–152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Muldoon, M. F., Barger, S. D., Flory, J. D., and Manuck, S. B. (1998). British Medical Journal, 316, 542–545.CrossRef
Parker, M., Baker, P. S., and Allman, R. M. (2001). A life-space approach to functional assessment of mobility in the elderly. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 35, 35–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Patla, A. E., and Shumway-Cook, A. (1999). Dimensions of mobility: Defining the complexity and difficulty associated with community mobility. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 7–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peel, C., Sawyer-Baker, P., Roth, D. L., Brown, C. J., Bodner, E. V., and Allman, R. M. (2005). Assessing mobility in older adults: The UAB study of aging life-space assessment. Physical Therapy, 85, 1008–1019.Google ScholarPubMed
Sheikh, J. L., and Yesavage, J. A. (1986). Geriatric depression scales (GDS): Recent evidence and development of a shorter version. Clinical Gerontologist, 5, 164–174.Google Scholar
,SPSS (2008). SPSS 16 for windows. Chicago, IL: SPSS.Google Scholar
Stalvey, B.T., Owsley, C., Sloan, M. E., and, Ball, K. (1999). The life space questionnaire: a measure of the extent of mobility of older adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 18, 460–478.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuck, A. E., Walthert, J. M., Nikolaus, T., Bula, C. J., Hohmann, C., and Beck, J. C. (1999). Risk factors for functional status decline in commu­nity-living elderly people: A systematic literature review. Social Science and Medicine, 48, 445–469.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Taylor, S. J., and Bogdan, R. (1998). Introduction to qualitative research methods. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.Google Scholar
Thoits, P. A. (1995). Stress, coping, and social support processes: Where are we? What next?Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Special issue, 53–79.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Whiteneck, G. (2006). Conceptual models of disability: Past, present, and future. In Field, M. J., Jette, A. M. and Martin, L. (eds.),Workshop on disability in America: A new look − summary and background papers. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.Google Scholar
Williams, B. R., Sawyer-Baker, P., Allman, R. M., and Roseman, J. M. (2007). Bereavement among African American and white older adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 19, 313–333.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wolf, D. A., Mendes de Leon, C. F., and Glass, T. A. (2007). Trends in rates of onset of and recovery from disability at older ages: 1982–1994. The Journals of Gerontology. Series B Psychological Science and Social Science, 62, S3–S10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×