Life-Space Mobility in a Sample of Independent Living Residents within a Continuing Care Retirement Community with an Embedded Wellness Program

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjective: This article examines life-space mobility within one year of relocation to a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) with an embedded wellness program.Methods: Ninety-six independent living (IL) residents self-repor`ted life-space mobility and physical, cognitive, and psychosocial variables.`Results: Mean life-space mobility of the current sample was 56.65 (SD = 16.92), suggesting the majority of residents moved independently inside the community but rarely traveled beyond the CCRC campus. Residents who were largely limited to the CCRC showed lower cognitive ability, t(94) = −3.37, p = .001, d = -.69, functional ability, t(94) = −4.85, p < .001, d = .88, and functional mobility, t(94) = 5.22, p < .001, d = 1.07, but did not report higher levels of depression, t(80) = 1.15, p = .254, or loneliness, t(94) = .63, p = .532, compared to residents who travelled beyond the CCRC campus.Conclusions: Results suggest that the majority of IL residents limited mobility to the CCRC campus, without compromising psychological well-being. Overall, the current study gives insight into the relationship between IL residents and an enhanced socio-physical environment.