ARMT Overview
The Assessment of Readiness for Mobility Transition (ARMT) is a measure emotional and attitudinal readiness associated with the prospect of present &/or future mobility loss/change that accompany advancing age (Meuser, Berg-Weger, et al, in press). The ARMT is designed for use as a “clinical” questionnaire in a social service, health care or supportive care encounter on mobility change and planning. Administration of the ARMT raises awareness concerning key issues in mobility-related appraisal and coping, and therefore serves as a starting point for active discussion and planning (i.e., mobility transition counseling).
Those who interpret mobility loss as a significant personal worry have a choice to make with respect to future planning. While feeling threatened (worried, fearful) can serve as a motivator for action, it could just as well hinder adaptive coping. Some older adults wait until a crisis situation (e.g., recent crash, new serious diagnosis) to consider mobility alternatives, especially if retirement from driving is a possibility. The task of the “mobility counselor” is to understand individual attitudes and appraisals so as to structure a dialogue and intervention to encourage an adaptive response before a crisis.
View a video concerning the background and conceptual basis of the ARMT.
The ARMT may be incorporated into general gerontological practice as a stand-alone intervention or incorporated into a complete Mobility Transition Counseling (MTC) intervention. Basic training in administration, scoring, and interpretation is provided in this section of the MTC Initiative website. Click here to learn about advanced training options and ways to get involved.
Meuser, T.M., Berg-Weger, M., Chibnall, J.T., Harmon, A., & Stowe, J. (in press; 9/11). Assessment of Readiness for Mobility Transition (ARMT): A Tool for Mobility Transition Counseling with Older Adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology.