Date of Award
2022
Degree Name
Occupational Therapy, OTD
Document Type
Dissertation
First Advisor
Amanda Mohler
Second Advisor
Daniel Busch
Subject Categories
Medicine and Health Sciences | Occupational Therapy | Rehabilitation and Therapy
Abstract
According to the Administration of Community Living (2021), between 2009 and 2019 there was a 34 percent increase of adults aged 60 and older, totaling 74.6 million older adults in the United States. With the increase in the aging population an emphasis on accessible environments to promote inclusion is necessary. The American Association of Retired Persons found 80 percent of Americans desire a community that has sidewalks and places to walk (2014). Sidewalks are an integral aspect to improving community participation and the quality of life of older adults. Sidewalks can assist in enhancing social interactions, physical activity, and community participation. Of the residents in Salem, roughly 50% are adults aged 50 and older (United States Census Bureau, n.d.). Communities that do not have existing sidewalks or lack sidewalk connectivity display an increased risk of injury for pedestrians. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (2022), there are approximately 6,000 pedestrian deaths in the United States each year.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Thomas, Hailey Godfrey, "Sidewalks: Environmental Facilitators to Promote Older Adult Community Participation" (2022). Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones. 4.
https://arch.astate.edu/nhp-ot-cap/4
