How mobile are persons with mobility restrictions? Analysis of number of days with activities using one-week activity schedules in Germany

Abstract

In Germany, 13% of all residents are disabled and 9.3% are even classified as severely disabled, which includes elderly people with limited mobility as well as physically disabled and mentally disabled people. Persons with mobility restrictions often report on barriers to meet daily needs, which is usually reflected on fewer days to perform out-of-home activities. The objective of this research is to evaluate whether persons with mobility restrictions are less mobile using one-week activity schedules. The results of the models confirm that persons with mobility restrictions are generally less mobile; being statistically significant for work, shop and recreation activities. It was found a significant interaction between occupation status and mobility restriction on the number of mobile days of most activity types, as well as an impact of the number of mobile days for mandatory activities on the number of mobile days for discretionary activities.