COMMUNITY MOBILITY PATTERNS OF OLDER ADULTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has had appreciative impacts on the lives of older adults. At various times during the pandemic, Canadian provinces put in place public health measures to prevent the spread of the virus, including closures of non-essential businesses and services. The Candrive Driving Cessation sub-study is a 12-year, mixed methods, longitudinal study. During the COVID-19 pandemic, participants from four sites (n=124, mean age=85.5 years) were asked to report how their community mobility patterns during the pandemic compared with before the pandemic. They also completed the COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale and the Assessment of Readiness for Mobility Transition (ARMT) tool. The results indicated that during the pandemic, participants were less likely to drive (χ2=7.11, p=.004) or ride a public bus (χ2=20.05, p<.001) when leaving their home. During the pandemic, they reported fewer trips to the supermarket (χ2=99.00, p<.001) and fewer visits with family (χ2=68.00, p=.001). We observed a statistically significant relationship between COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale scores and ARMT (Anticipatory Anxiety subscale; r= .810, p<.001), such that higher COVID-19-related anxiety was associated with greater anxiety related to anticipating changes in mobility. These results emphasize the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mobility patterns of older adults. Promoting community mobility for older adults alongside preventative public health measures is essential.