Perceived Accessibility to Services and Sites Among Israeli Older Adults

Objective:To explore the direct and indirect effects of settlement type (rural-kibbutz vs. urban mid-size cities) on perceived accessibility by sociospatial factors: (a) connection to the living area, (b) familiarity with the living area, (c) social participation, and (d) perceived safety of the living area. Method: A convenience sample of 279 older adults aged 65 and older was interviewed. Using bootstrapping, we tested the strength and significance of the conditional indirect effects of four simultaneous mediators of the relationship between settlement type and perceived accessibility. Main Findings: The relationship between settlement type and perceived accessibility was mediated by social participation and perceived safety of the living area. Conclusion: Policy makers should pay attention to the enhancement of sociospatial dimensions to improve the perceived accessibility of older adults.