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Ageing in a low-density urban city: transportation mobility as a social equity issue

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 November 2016

GAIL ADORNO ,
NOELLE FIELDS ,
COURTNEY CRONLEY ,
RUPAL PAREKH  and
KAREN MAGRUDER
GAIL ADORNO*
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, USA.
NOELLE FIELDS
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, USA.
COURTNEY CRONLEY
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, USA.
RUPAL PAREKH
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, USA.
KAREN MAGRUDER
Affiliation:
The Senior Source, Inc., Dallas, Texas, USA.
*
Address for correspondence: Gail Adorno, Ph.D., L.C.S.W. School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, 211 S. Cooper Street, Arlington, TX 76019, USAE-mail:gfadorno@uta.edu
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine older adults' experiences and perspectives regarding transportation mobility. Using a community-based participatory research approach, residents of Arlington, Texas, age 55 and older, participated in individual interviews (N = 15) or one of six focus groups (N = 45) as part of an overall study about ageing well in a large ethnically diverse city in the United States of America. Thematic analysis was conducted using inductive and deductive qualitative methods and social equity as a sensitising concept. Findings indicate that older adults who are transportation-disadvantaged experience limited access to health care, goods and services and are isolated from familiar lifestyle habits and social networks. Access to affordable, adequate transportation is compromised through social and political forces, which marginalise historically disadvantaged populations. Implications for cross-disciplinary practice and future research on sustainable transportation and policy development are discussed within a social justice and social equity framework.

Keywords

transportationageingolder adultsageing wellsocial equity
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 38 , Issue 2 , February 2018 , pp. 296 - 320
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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