Negotiating mobility: Methodological insights from older adults' activity diaries

Older adults' mobility is a growing area of research, with multiple methods being employed to understand whether older adults can adequately access key destinations. This has resulted in increased interest in older adults' activity spaces, and a concomitant rise in methods employed to work with these individuals. While GPS-based data collection has advantages, traditional paper surveys remain in use due to their perceived low barriers to entry for participants and researchers. Relatively little is known regarding the appropriateness and validity of paper-based, self-reported activity diary data collection with older adults. Using qualitative feedback on activity diary surveys deployed in rural and urban communities and the activity diaries themselves, we argue that paper, self-reported activity diaries are viable instruments for recording older adults' geographies. Further, qualitative feedback demonstrates how older adults confront their mobility, memories, and communities. We identify perceived mobility deficits, difficulties remembering, community visibility, and positive affect among our participants. Our findings suggest participating in activity diary surveys is a generally positive experience for older adults, but for some may engender a sense of inadequacy regardless of their activity level. We make recommendations for methodological enhancements specific to working with older adults.