Community Mobility and Transport Use of Urban Older Adults Who Attend Public Healthcare in Gauteng, South Africa

Abstract

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Older adults with limited socio-economic means, living in South Africa's most densely populated province, Gauteng, have experienced historical restriction and challenges to their freedom of movement. Interviews were conducted with older adults attending public healthcare facilities that offered rehabilitation service in Gauteng, to capture their community mobility experience and the modes of transport they used. These interviews explored the difficulties the older adults experienced and the strategies they employed to overcome them, with an invitation for them to give suggestions for improvement METHOD: An exploratory concurrent mixed methods study design saw 84 rehabilitation clinicians interview 393 older adults who visited public healthcare facilities where the clinicians practiced. The clinicians kept 109 field notes and took part in a cumulative five hours of group discussion. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data through inductive content analysis RESULTS: Walking and mini-bus taxis were the most prominent forms of community mobility. Fiscal and transport poverty, crime and poor infrastructure were barriers participants experienced. Community involvement and leadership accountability were suggested solutions CONCLUSION: The community mobility and transport use realities of older adults, and the rehabilitation professionals who interviewed them, as well as strategies and suggestions to overcome the barriers they experienced should be noted by policy makers and service providers. Strategies are proposed to stimulate further consideration and development Keywords: transport poverty, limited socio-economic means, community involvement, leadership accountability, stake holders, Ubuntu.