The Association Between Exposure to Blue Spaces and Multidimensional Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Contact with blue spaces appears to benefit older adults' health and well-being, but evidence on its relationship with frailty is scarce. This cross-sectional study investigated associations between exposure to blue spaces and multidimensional frailty in 189 community-dwelling people aged ≥65 years (Portugal). Measurements included the Tilburg Frailty Indicator, questionnaire regarding exposure, and Geographic Information System data for proximity. Purposeful visits once or twice a month were associated with lower physical frailty, as were visits with pets, engaging in physical activity, and spending 1-2 hours or >2 hours in these environments. Visiting with others was associated with lower social frailty. Incidental exposure-passing by visible blue spaces during daily commutes-was linked to lower total and physical frailty. Walking travel times <20 minutes were associated with lower total, physical, and social frailty, with different distances within this range showing domain-specific associations. Results suggest blue spaces may promote healthy aging.