Falls and Injury Prevention. Built Environments that Promote Active Living for Seniors. Safe States Alliance Annual Meeting

Transcription

1 Falls and Injury Prevention Through Creating Safe Built Environments that Promote Active Living for Seniors Photo by Chuck Liddy - chuck.liddy@newsobserver.com From left, Rebecca Hunter, Rufus Allen, Margie Rose, Dick Hatch and Jennifer Woody check the "walkability" of a t t h f Ob li R d Safe States Alliance Annual Meeting stretch of Oberlin Road. Atlanta, GA May 3, 2012

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3 Falls and the Built Environment Physical activity helps maintain lower body strength Safe built environments encourage passive physical activity Supportive infrastructure enables access programs and services

4 If You Build It, Will They Come? Positive perceptions p of the social and physical environment in one s neighborhood were significantly correlated with lower BMI and higher odds of meeting weekly RPA through walking Source: The Effect of Light Rail Transit on Body Mass Index and Physical Activity John M. MacDonald, PhD, Robert J. Stokes, PhD, Deborah A. Cohen, MD, MPH,Aaron Kofner, MS, Greg K. Ridgeway, PhD

5 What would make more North Carolinians i walk? 74% of North Carolinians said they would walk more if pedestrian safety issues in their community were addressed. 1 60% of North Carolina adults reported that they would increase their physical activity if their community had more accessible sidewalks or trails for walking or bicycling. 2 Sources: 1. NC DOThttp:// 2. Planning for Pedestrians and Bicyclists in North Carolina Popular Government article by Kelly Evenson, Sara Satinsky, Semra Aytur and Daniel Rodriguez

6 Why consider older adult needs? Older adults are at greater risk than younger people for falls & motor vehicle injury. They are less likely to venture out to shop, dine, or be active when conditions are unsafe. Walking environments that are safe & accessible by older people & people with disabilities benefit the entire community! R. Hunter

7 Issues Older Pedestrians Identify Too hard (32%) Everything too far (25%) No place to rest (20%) Poor sidewalks (20%) Dangerous intersections (20%) Too long to get anywhere (16%) Crime (15%) Source: Stowell Ritter, A., Straight, A., Evans E. Understanding Senior Transportation: Report and Analysis of Consumers Age 50+.Washington DC: AARP Public Policy Institute, Available at edu/newsletter/aug02/aarpreport pdf Dan Burden, PBIC

8 Oberlin Village Walking Audit for Senior Safety September 21, :00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Oberlin Village, Raleigh, NC

9 AARP Sidewalks and Streets Survey

10 Oberlin Village Walk Audit Route Route Starting at 806 Oberlin Rd > to Smallwood Dr, crossed intersection at Smallwood towards Everett Ave, Turned Right onto Tower St, Right onto Bedford Ave, left onto Oberlin Rd, and crossed street to return to 806 Oberlin Rd.

11 Oberlin Village: General Issues Limited or aging g pedestrian facilities Narrow sidewalks with cracks & pits likely to cause falls Inadequate buffers given traffic volume & speed Poor condition of curb cuts Streets with no sidewalks

12 Intersection: Oberlin and Smallwood Problem: Crosswalk Push-to- walk signal located too far from intersection. Safety/ Walkability Risks or Barriers: HIGH Crosswalk push to walk button located about 20 feet from crossing point at intersection. Difficult for people with mobility problems to access, takes away available time to make it across the intersection. Action: ASAP - Relocate crosswalk push to walk signal close to intersection to encourage use and make it easier and safer for people with mobility issues to access. Sample problem

13 Sidewalk: 800 Block Oberlin Problem: Bushes blocking SW; SW too narrow. Safety/Walkability Risks or Barriers: MODERATE Tripping hazard; difficult for individuals id using assistive devices to pass. Action: ASAP Trim bushes; educate residents; Future: widen SW Sample problem

14 Sidewalk: 200 Block Tower St. Problem: No curb ramp; SW ends midblock leaving pedestrians using assistive devices stranded; barrier for wheelchair bound individuals Safety/Walkability Risks or Barriers: HIGH Significant falls risk for people with mobility limitations: Not accessible to pedestrians using assistive devices Action: Future - Install curb ramp mid-block (or extend SW) Sample problem

15 Curb ramps: 700 Block Oberlin Problem: Poor condition of CR and crossing surface; No tactile element; ramp slants towards roadway; poor drainage. Safety/Walkability Risks or Barriers: MODERATE-LOW Falls risk and accessibility problem; Many older adults have difficulty with poor surface conditions. Accessibility obstacle for people with visual impairments; i other curb ramps in area have tactile element. Inconsistency makes wayfinding difficult Action: ASAP Replace curb ramp; repave crossing surface Add tactile element; improve drainage; reorient ramp for safer egress. ess Sample problem

16 Follow Up to Walkshop Report given at Raleigh Pedestrian Plan open house and included in final plan Presentation given to bike/ped advisory council Next steps: project in Kenly, NC through NC Falls Prevention Coalition

17 Questions and Contact Jennifer Woody, NC Division of Public Health, Injury and Violence Prevention Branch Rebecca Hunter, UNC Institute on Aging Jennifer Baldwin, City of Raleigh For more information, please contact: Jennifer Woody