Barriers and Facilitators to the Social Participation of Individuals Aging with a Long-Term Neurological Disability: A Scoping Review

Supporting the social participation of individuals aging with long-term neurological disabilities is key to healthy aging. However, knowledge about the factors influencing their social participation remains limited and fragmented. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, this scoping revie...

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Main Authors: Samuel Turcotte, Sirine Kheroua, Gloria Brun, Laura Gagnon, Nora Bustamante, Angéline Labbé, Pascale Simard, Megan Veilleux, Mia Lapointe, Manh Hung Nguyen, Mélanie Levasseur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Disabilities
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7272/5/2/49
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author Samuel Turcotte
Sirine Kheroua
Gloria Brun
Laura Gagnon
Nora Bustamante
Angéline Labbé
Pascale Simard
Megan Veilleux
Mia Lapointe
Manh Hung Nguyen
Mélanie Levasseur
author_facet Samuel Turcotte
Sirine Kheroua
Gloria Brun
Laura Gagnon
Nora Bustamante
Angéline Labbé
Pascale Simard
Megan Veilleux
Mia Lapointe
Manh Hung Nguyen
Mélanie Levasseur
author_sort Samuel Turcotte
collection DOAJ
description Supporting the social participation of individuals aging with long-term neurological disabilities is key to healthy aging. However, knowledge about the factors influencing their social participation remains limited and fragmented. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, this scoping review synthesized and integrated knowledge regarding the barriers and facilitators to the social participation of individuals aging with long-term neuro-disabilities. A search in four databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and EMBASE) resulted in 18 studies involving 2587 participants with nine neurological conditions: stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, aphasia, post-polio syndrome, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy. A total of 38 barriers, 25 facilitators, and 4 factors with mixed influence to social participation were identified. Key reported barriers included the organic system (e.g., fatigue or pain) and macro environments (e.g., inaccessible built environment). The most common facilitators involved physical dimensions in personal factors (e.g., good physical functions) and micro-environments (e.g., supportive social environment). This review highlights the need for accessible infrastructure and community support to promote inclusivity and equity. Future research should focus on community-level factors and mixed study designs to provide robust evidence to improve social participation and healthy aging in this vulnerable population.
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spelling doaj-art-927bf60b2ad84cfdb9f4c7666ba23f542025-08-20T03:27:32ZengMDPI AGDisabilities2673-72722025-05-01524910.3390/disabilities5020049Barriers and Facilitators to the Social Participation of Individuals Aging with a Long-Term Neurological Disability: A Scoping ReviewSamuel Turcotte0Sirine Kheroua1Gloria Brun2Laura Gagnon3Nora Bustamante4Angéline Labbé5Pascale Simard6Megan Veilleux7Mia Lapointe8Manh Hung Nguyen9Mélanie Levasseur10School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaSchool of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaSchool of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaSchool of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaSchool of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (Cirris), Québec, QC G1M 2S8, CanadaSchool of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaSchool of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaSchool of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaSchool of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaResearch Centre on Aging, Health and Social Services Centre, University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 2J7, CanadaSupporting the social participation of individuals aging with long-term neurological disabilities is key to healthy aging. However, knowledge about the factors influencing their social participation remains limited and fragmented. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, this scoping review synthesized and integrated knowledge regarding the barriers and facilitators to the social participation of individuals aging with long-term neuro-disabilities. A search in four databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and EMBASE) resulted in 18 studies involving 2587 participants with nine neurological conditions: stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, aphasia, post-polio syndrome, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy. A total of 38 barriers, 25 facilitators, and 4 factors with mixed influence to social participation were identified. Key reported barriers included the organic system (e.g., fatigue or pain) and macro environments (e.g., inaccessible built environment). The most common facilitators involved physical dimensions in personal factors (e.g., good physical functions) and micro-environments (e.g., supportive social environment). This review highlights the need for accessible infrastructure and community support to promote inclusivity and equity. Future research should focus on community-level factors and mixed study designs to provide robust evidence to improve social participation and healthy aging in this vulnerable population.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7272/5/2/49neurological disordershealthy aginghealth equitysocial inclusionbuilt environmentcommunity support
spellingShingle Samuel Turcotte
Sirine Kheroua
Gloria Brun
Laura Gagnon
Nora Bustamante
Angéline Labbé
Pascale Simard
Megan Veilleux
Mia Lapointe
Manh Hung Nguyen
Mélanie Levasseur
Barriers and Facilitators to the Social Participation of Individuals Aging with a Long-Term Neurological Disability: A Scoping Review
Disabilities
neurological disorders
healthy aging
health equity
social inclusion
built environment
community support
title Barriers and Facilitators to the Social Participation of Individuals Aging with a Long-Term Neurological Disability: A Scoping Review
title_full Barriers and Facilitators to the Social Participation of Individuals Aging with a Long-Term Neurological Disability: A Scoping Review
title_fullStr Barriers and Facilitators to the Social Participation of Individuals Aging with a Long-Term Neurological Disability: A Scoping Review
title_full_unstemmed Barriers and Facilitators to the Social Participation of Individuals Aging with a Long-Term Neurological Disability: A Scoping Review
title_short Barriers and Facilitators to the Social Participation of Individuals Aging with a Long-Term Neurological Disability: A Scoping Review
title_sort barriers and facilitators to the social participation of individuals aging with a long term neurological disability a scoping review
topic neurological disorders
healthy aging
health equity
social inclusion
built environment
community support
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7272/5/2/49
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