Doctors routinely advise their older patients to walk more, but what if the sidewalks are crumbling; if they don’t know a neighbor who could serve as a walking partner to help them feel safe; or if there’s nothing interesting to see outside of their homes? Just how much a neighborhood’s environment affects the health and quality of life of older adults will be addressed by a new study conducted by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine, San Diego State University, the University of Cincinnati and the research firm of Lawrence Frank and Co. Inc. of Vancouver, British Columbia. The researchers are recruiting 500 residents of the Seattle area age 66 or older to determine what factors make for the healthiest neighborhoods, and will do a similar study in Baltimore when the Seattle portion concludes. They hope their findings will help city planners and agencies for the elderly identify elements that help — and hinder — the ability to stay independent and healthy as people age. « So much of our health-promotion activities have focused on the person and the individual characteristics that make it easier to be healthy, » said Abby King, PhD, professor of health
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