Comparisons Between GPS-based and Self-reported Life-space Mobility in Older Adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Mobility Studies
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Life-space mobility (LSM) is crucial for older adults' well-being.
• Traditional assessments rely on self-report, which can be subjective.
• Advancements in wearable GPS sensors offer potential for objective LSM measurement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare self-reported LSM with GPS-derived LSM in older adults.
• To evaluate the utility of smartwatch-based GPS for assessing mobility patterns.
• To determine if GPS-based and self-reported LSM capture similar dimensions of mobility.

Main Methods:

• 27 participants (aged 65+) wore a smartwatch for 1-2 weeks.
• GPS data was collected at two locations (Connecticut and Florida).
• GPS-derived features (e.g., excursion size) were compared to self-reported LSM, with and without an 'assistance needed' indicator.

Main Results:

• Positive correlations were observed between self-reported and GPS-based LSM, but none were statistically significant.
• Inclusion of an 'assistance needed' indicator slightly improved correlations.
• Statistical significance was achieved only for excursion size (r=0.40, P=0.04).

Conclusions:

• Self-reported and GPS-based LSM assessments capture distinct dimensions of mobility.
• Smartwatch-based GPS may not fully replace self-reported measures for capturing overall life-space mobility.
• Further research is needed to integrate objective and subjective mobility data.