Transforming the Built Environment for Mobility Challenged Seniors: Protocol for the Built Environment in Falls and ArthrITis (BE-FIT) Study

Abstract: A neighborhood’s built environment can challenge the mobility of older mobility-challenged adults (due to knee osteoarthritis and falls), reducing their participation and quality of life. The Built Environment in Falls and arthrITis (BE-FIT) study aims to understand the neighborhood influence on the mobility, participation, and psychosocial health of older adults with knee osteoarthritis and/or falls. BE-FIT comprises four work packages (WPs). WP1 quantitatively explores relationships among environmental-, social-, and person-related factors and participation outcomes of its intended population. WP2 employs qualitative methods to comprehend the relationships among WP1’s variables. Via a combination of wearable sensor technology and qualitative geospatial methods, WP3 aims to characterize its population’s movement behavior, mobility, functional activity of daily living, and lived experiences of residing in a mature neighborhood. Finally, WP4 engages crucial stakeholders to co-develop evidence-based recommendations to inform public health, urban planning, and aging policies and implementation. BE-FIT could benefit societies with rising incidence of knee osteoarthritis and falls by improving neighborhoods and lives of older mobility-challenged residents.

SOURCE: Journal of Ageing and Longevity

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jal6020043

AUTHORS: Woon EYS, Yang SY, Lie EYY, Seayad N, Tan CY, Friganović K, Jamaluddin SA, Wong SC, Tan IO, Tou NX, Liang HH, Kua JEC, Ismail NH, Su S, Liang P, Mavros P, Ng YS, Ding YY, Thumboo J, Singh NB & Tan BY.