Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Lecturer of Gerontological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Zagazig University, Egypt.
2
Assistant Professor of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Zagazig University, Egypt.
3
Lecturer of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Zagazig University, Egypt.
4
Lecturer of Gerontological nursing, Faculty of nursing, Damanhour University, Egypt.
Abstract
Background: Mobility is essential component of life space to maintain active lifestyle, self-care behavior and independence among older adults. Neighborhood environment affects the health of older adults by influencing their lifestyle and behaviors. Moreover, developing age-friendly communities create more age-friendly environments for everyone, especially older adult and can improve the access to key services and enable them to be and do what they value. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of age-friendly neighborhood environment on life space mobility and self-care behaviors of older adults. Subjects and Methods: Design: A descriptive correlation design was utilized. Setting: It was conducted in the only Club for Elderly found in Zagazig City, Egypt. Subjects: Two hundred older adults were enrolled by using simple random sampling technique. Tools of data collection: Data was collected by three tools: Tool I: included socio-demographic form, questions about comorbidities and health state, and Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Questionnaire, Tool II: Life Space Assessment, and tool III: Self-care Behaviors Scale. Results: The older adults were moderately satisfied with their neighborhood environment with mean score 26.3±11.8. Mean score of total life space mobility was 38.8±28.1, Moreover, 65% of older adults have unsatisfactory level of total self-care behaviors. There was highly statistically significant positive correlation between total age-friendly neighborhood environment score and total life space mobility score (r= 0.689, p=<0.01), and total self-care behaviors score (r= 0.651, p=<0.01) Conclusion: Older people who live in urban, highly educated and in good health condition had satisfactory level of life space mobility and self-care behaviours. As well as, age-friendly neighborhood environment was a strong positive predictor and had an imposing effect on both life space mobility and self-care behaviors. Recommendations: Educational programs for older adults and their caregivers to utilize from resources in neighborhood environment and using technology to enhance the life space mobility and self-care aspects, particularly physical and social self-care.
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