"Earth angels" and parking spots: qualitative perspectives on healthy aging with spinal cord injury.

Purpose: People aging with spinal cord injury (SCI) can experience the premature onset of comorbid conditions, as well as the development and progression of secondary health conditions. The aim of this study was to understand the subjective experiences of persons aging with SCI in relation to their surrounding social and physical environments, including the impact of barriers and facilitators. Eleven individuals who had an SCI for more than ten years and were 45 years or older participated in a semi-structured phone interview about their experiences with healthy aging, social participation, social supports, and community barriers.