The project has three objectives, to be reached in three subprojects. Most results thus far have been achieved in subproject 2, but the other two subproject have also progressed.
Subproject 1: Comparing objectively measured mobility patterns of older adults within and between places
Most research on mobility patterns in later life has focused on outdoor mobility, or movement between places. Results from the MeaningfulMobility project confirm that older adults spend the majority of their time indoors, or within places. More importantly, our results show that older adults alternate everyday activities with high levels of social interaction, with those requiring high levels of physical movement. Thus, we observed a trade-off relationship between the levels of social interaction and physical movement during everyday activities in later life.
Subproject 2: Conducting an in-depth study of the subjective mobility experiences within and between places
Mobility experiences in later life have mainly considered healthy older adults, and in relation to movement between places. MeaningfulMobility provides first results based on mixed samples of older adults, including both older adults experiencing memory issues and ‘healthy’ older adults, in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The results show that older adults’ mobility can be vulnerable, not only in the context of their own physical and cognitive health problems, but also in the context of the health problems of people they care for. With regard to caregiver mobility, we found that mobility aspirations are important in understanding the roles that older adults inhabit.
From a subproject carried out during the first COVID-19 lockdown in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, we learnt that older adults are resilient and creative in adapting their daily activities during lockdown, as well as in countering the potentially negative impact of the pandemic. Slowing down, and spending more time at home, were welcomed as a break from often quite busy daily routines.
Subproject 3: Connecting mobility research with the capability approach to gain comprehensive understanding of the diversity in mobility practices in later life in relation to well-being
The first connections between mobility research and the capability approach have been created. In our study on mobility and daily life during the pandemic, we integrated ideas of stillness and the capability approach. Results show that individual agency and contextual factors impact the effects of prolonged periods of stillness during everyday life. Furthermore, using the capability approach has brought the relevance of imagined mobilities in later life to the fore.
Overarching contributions
MeaningfulMobility has also resulted in contributions that reach beyond the immediate focus of its subprojects. The team has engaged in reflections arising from the ethical and data management challenges in the project. That has resulted in recommendations for other researchers in the field about how to conduct (international) research under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as well as about the vulnerabilities of researchers and research participants during the pandemic.
More information about the MeaningfulMobility project can be found on the project webpage: www.rug.nl/meaningfulmobility.
