A Gerontological Analysis of Functional Dependence and Socio-Familial Risk in Older Adults in Bucaramanga, Colombia

Objective: To examine patterns and interconnections between functional dependence and socio-familial risk in older adults and identify critical co-occurrence patterns through network analysis within a gerontological framework. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the ARENA study involving 196 older adults in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Functional status was assessed using the Barthel and Lawton indexes, while socio-familial risk was measured using the Gijón Socio-Familial Assessment Scale. Basic and instrumental activities of daily living with the highest dependency rates were cross-referenced with five social risk domains. A co-occurrence matrix was constructed and visualised using VOSviewer. Results: Functional limitations were observed in 59.69% of participants for basic activities of daily living, and in 44.90% for instrumental activities of daily living. Socio-familial risk was present in 47.45% of participants, particularly in the domains of economic hardship and limited social support. Network analysis identified three functionalsocial clusters, with stair use, telephone use and bladder control emerging as central nodes linked to multiple social risks. These intersections suggest that functional decline is embedded within broader structures of social vulnerability. Conclusion: Functional assessment of older adults should incorporate socio-environmental factors intervention and informing complexity-based approaches in gerontology and geriatrics. The findings support the integration of interdisciplinary, context-sensitive strategies to promote autonomy and dignity in ageing.