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Description

Introduction: There is a lack of understanding about the accessibility needs of elderly borderland residents, and the barriers that they face when they try to maintain their health and well-being.

Objectives: To analyze transportation and community engagement in a rural community on the US-Mexico border. To analyze the findings of transportation and community engagement in a rural community on the US-Mexico border.

Methodology: A triangulated study using the Place Standard Assessment, Semi-Structured Interviews, and a walking survey with the theoretical framework of the Person, Occupation, Environment, Performance (N=3). Data analysis consisted of comparing means generated by the PSA on 14 topics ranging from feelings of safety to self-control in their community setting, to emerging themes from SSIs on participants' perceptions on the same topics. Walking Survey findings were analyzed for emergent themes and used to support or refute the superordinate themes.

Findings: Feelings of generativity despite their frailty was important to the participants. Sustainability and the future of the community were a prime concern. Participants were Motivated to maintain their health, well-being, and independence to overcome the challenges of poor social and environmental determinants of health. Participants expressed a yearning for social engagement with others in the community and that the current physical and social environment of Sunland Park was not meeting their needs.

Implications: Elderly borderland residents would benefit from improved local public health services, with diverse stakeholders and interprofessional collaboration. There is a gap in the Occupational Therapy base of evidence on elderly borderland residents. There is a need for advocacy to enhance the well-being of this population. Elderly borderland residents would benefit from community-based occupational therapy to improve their well-being and facilitate social engagement with their peers.

Publication Date

4-15-2021

Publisher

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

Medical Subject Headings

Transportation, Rural Population, Health Services Accessibility, Adults, Aged, Occupational Therapy

Disciplines

Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Occupational Therapy | Public Health

Comments

Poster presented at the Spring 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences on April 15, 2021.

An IPA Analysis Examining Transportation, Community Engagement, and Healthcare Access of Elderly Adults in a Rural Border Community
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