142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

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Perceptions of safety in an active retirement community

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Carla L. VandeWeerd, PhD , Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Sarah Fishleder, BA , College of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Susan Tyler, BA , Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Philip Mcnab, MA, MPH , Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Jaime Corvin, PhD, MSPH , Global Health, Univeristy of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Objectives: (1) To assess older adults perceptions of safety in an active retirement community and (2) to contribute to a more holistic understanding of community dwelling older adult’s experiences of risk that encompasses environmental, social, and health concerns.

Methods:  Data were collected and analyzed from Phase 1 and Phase 3 focus groups conducted as part of the Villages Health Study, a multi-phase mixed methods health assessment in an active retirement community in central Florida.  Phase 1 included 53 focus groups (n=384) and Phase 3 included 29 focus groups (n=144).  Phase 1 questions prompted participant’s definition of health and general health concerns. Phase 3 focus groups directly probed perceptions of safety in the community. 

Results:  Findings suggest that older adults conceptualize safety in six ways: (1) physical health, (2) environmental health, (3) mental health, (4) social capital, (5) interpersonal health, and (6) financial health.  Participants expressed fears over falling, transportation issues, and being taken advantage of financially.  Conversely, participants discussed the safety benefits of living in a community with high social capital and strong relationships. 

Conclusions:  Previous research on older adult safety focuses primarily on mistreatment and abuse.  While participants did voice concerns over potential dangers from others, the data suggests that older adults in an active retirement community conceptualize safety in a broader sense. In order to develop tailored public health programs for community dwelling older adults we must holistically evaluate the environmental and social settings in which they are aging. Policy and practice implications will also be discussed.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the importance of incorporating older adults definitions of safety into how safety is conceptualized in public health. Identify the most salient safety concerns of older adults living in an active adult retirement community.

Keyword(s): Aging, Violence & Injury Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have has extensive involvement in this project, as well as conducting other research with older adults. I have an MPH, MA and a CPH
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.