Continuing Mobility and Occupational Participation Outside the Home in Old Age Is an Act of Negotiation

Abstract

Facilitated by mobility, occupational participation outside the home is vital in old age. However, the relative importance of factors influencing mobility and occupational participation remains unclear. The present study describes older peoples' motives for, and experiences of, mobility and occupational participation outside the home. Nine focus-group interviews were conducted and analyzed using content analysis. Occupational participation and mobility was individually experienced, although some subjective perspectives were common. Continuing mobility and occupational participation outside the home in old age is an act of negotiation, encompassing occupational means and goals, occupational and mobility adaptation, as well as occupational barriers and facilitators.

Keywords:

• activity
• content analysis
• focus group
• mobility
• occupation

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the informants for their valuable contributions and the financial support for this study by the Swedish Road Administration (SNRA).

Notes

1. In the International Classification of Disability Function and Health (ICF) defined as “… involvement in a life situation” (WHO, 2001, p. 11).

2. In the present study, defined as occupational participation.

3. In the ICF defined as “… moving by changing position or location … by using various forms of transportation” (WHO, 2001, p. 138).

4. “moving self in the community and using public or private transportation” as defined by American Occupational Therapy Association, (2002, p. 620).

5. “ … the physical, social and attitudinal environment in which people live and conduct their lives” (WHO, 2001, p. 11) as defined by the ICF.