Co-developing a meaningful digital platform to enhance mobility of community-dwelling older adults
Working with supported-living older residents, this is an explorative study of what is wanted and needed to sustain mobility.
About the project
Gathering data from residents via semi-structured interviews from two retirement villages, our study explores all sorts of movement, not just physical exercise. The aim is to co-create with older people and their care providers a user-friendly digital platform (application) where individual data can motivate an older person to improve their physical and mental health.
Remaining mobile is important to older people in enabling them to participate in meaningful social, cultural, and physical activities, accessing neighbourhood facilities, and belonging to a community. The adverse impact of limited mobility in old age includes loss of autonomy, social isolation and loneliness, dependency, depression, and even placement in care institutions, with associated cost to society and economy. Following the COVID- 19 Pandemic, older people were predominantly affected by physical de-conditioning during lockdown.