Weekly community mobility patterns among older adults in a Brazilian city: a GPS-based study

Background Active community mobility is critical for preserving physical health, autonomy, and functional capacity in older adults. However, in Latin America, objective assessments using Global Positioning System (GPS) data remain scarce, hindering the development of targeted, evidence-based strategies for healthy aging. Objective To characterize weekly mobility patterns and analyze variations in active travel based on sociodemographic, health, and environmental factors among older adults in a Brazilian urban setting. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 276 community-dwelling individuals (≥ 60 years) in Florianópolis, Brazil. Participants wore a GPS device for seven consecutive days to objectively record all trips and travel modes. Data were integrated with household interview results and neighborhood-level census data (walkability and income). Results Participants averaged 23.3 trips per week, with 71.7% classified as active (primarily walking). Despite this high frequency, only 9.8% met the ≥ 150 min/week physical activity threshold through transportation alone. Active travel significantly differed by education level and nutritional status ( p < 0.05), while neighborhood walkability and contextual income showed no clear association with mobility indicators. Conclusions While older adults engage frequently in active travel, the volume is often insufficient to meet global physical activity recommendations. Objective GPS data offer crucial insights for designing age-friendly urban policies and public health interventions tailored to middle-income contexts. Clinical Trial Registration Not applicable. This study is observational in nature and does not involve a clinical trial.