Neighborhood Influences on Participation among Older Adults with Chronic Health Conditions: A Scoping Review

Older adults with chronic health conditions face difficulties participating in everyday occupations but may gain support to do so from neighborhood environments. This article describes research regarding neighborhood influences on participation in this population. A scoping review identified 689 articles, of which 15 met the selection criteria. Findings indicate that neighborhood economic status, services/resources, mobility resources/barriers, physical problems, cohesion, and safety are linked to participation in older adults and older adults with chronic conditions. Most studies measured participation frequency or limitations and did not consider social support as a covariate. These findings can guide research to examine a range of neighborhood characteristics while considering the effects of the individual's characteristics and social support. Longitudinal and qualitative research can also help to understand this complex area of study.