Improving Mobility of Transportation-Disadvantaged Older Adults: A Community-Based Intervention for Hispanic/Latinx Population

Jang, Siwon; Wright, Savana; Liller, Rebecca; Lee, Chanyoung; Vazquez-Soto, Giselle; Lee, Kathy; Menchaca, Silvia · 2021 · ROSA P / Center for Transportation, Equity, Decisions and Dollars (CTEDD) (UTC)

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Summary

This study addresses the transportation and health challenges faced by Hispanic/Latinx older adults in the United States, a demographic projected to grow significantly and often characterized by socioeconomic disadvantage and language barriers. The research builds upon the Healthy Buddy Program (HB), a community-based initiative that pairs trained college students with transportation-disadvantaged older adults to help them identify local health and transportation resources. Motivated by the need for culturally relevant interventions, the researchers developed the Spanish-Language Healthy Buddy Program (SHB) to determine if a Spanish-language iteration could improve mobility and quality of life for Hispanic/Latinx older adults. The study employed a pilot-test design implemented in Hillsborough County, Florida, and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and San Antonio, Texas. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was conducted entirely remotely via phone and Microsoft Teams. The methodology involved recruiting bilingual student volunteers and Hispanic/Latinx older adults aged 65 or older who lacked reliable transportation and managed chronic health conditions. A total of 29 participants were enrolled (4 in Florida, 25 in Texas). The intervention consisted of two sessions: an initial interview to assess needs and administer a pre-survey, followed by the creation of personalized resource packets and a second session to review these resources. Outcome measurement utilized pre- and post-surveys administered six weeks apart, assessing quality of life, self-efficacy, and computer anxiety. Data from 23 eligible participants were analyzed using paired samples t-tests. The results indicated that while the mean post-test score for overall quality of life (61.17) was higher than the mean pre-test score (59.30), the difference was not statistically significant (p > .10). Despite the lack of statistical significance in the quantitative data, qualitative findings from in-depth interviews revealed that participants were receptive to the program model. Participants reported learning about resources they were previously unaware of, suggesting the intervention successfully increased awareness of community supports. The remote implementation proved feasible, allowing the program to continue despite pandemic-related restrictions on in-person contact. The significance of this study lies in its demonstration of a scalable, low-cost, community-based model for addressing transportation disadvantage among Hispanic/Latinx older adults. The findings highlight the importance of culturally and linguistically tailored interventions, such as the Spanish-language resources and bilingual volunteers used in SHB. Although the pilot did not yield statistically significant improvements in quality of life scores, likely due to the small sample size and remote delivery constraints, the positive participant feedback and successful remote execution provide a foundation for future iterations. The study underscores the potential for student-community partnerships to enhance the self-efficacy and resource access of aging populations, offering insights for developing effective strategies to improve mobility and health outcomes in diverse communities.

Key finding

The Spanish-Language Healthy Buddy Program resulted in a non-statistically significant increase in mean quality of life scores among Hispanic/Latinx older adults, though participants reported positive reception and increased resource awareness.

Methodology

field_study

Sample size: 23

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

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• older driver retraining