Article

PURPOSE : To explore the association of features of a person's neighborhood
environment with disability in daily activities. METHOD:
We recruited 436 people
aged 65 years and over (mean 70.4 years (SD = 3.9)) with functional limitations
from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST). Features of the neighborhood
environment were assessed using the Home and Community Environment (HACE) survey.
The Late-Life Disability Instrument (LLDI) was used to assess disability in daily
activities. We used logistic regression to examine the association of individual
environmental features with disability. RESULTS. Older adults whose neighborhoods
did not have parks and walking areas less frequently engaged in a regular fitness
program (OR = 0.4, 95% CI (0.2, 0.7)), and in social activities (OR = 0.5, 95% CI
(0.3, 1.0)). Those whose neighborhoods had adequate handicap parking had 1.5-1.8
higher odds of engagement in several social and work role activities. The presence of public transportation was associated with 1.5-2.9 higher odds of not
feeling limited in social, leisure, and work role activities, and instrumental
activities of daily living. CONCLUSION: Our exploratory study suggests that parks
and walking areas, adequate handicap parking, and public transportation are
associated with disability in older adults.

Langue : ANGLAIS