The percentage of senior drivers in a community declines with
age. A recent study of driving expectancy reported in an article in
The American Journal of Public Health indicates that there is
a difference in life expectancy and driving. The implication is
that both men and women will live for a period (as many as 6 years
for men and 11 years for women) when they will be transportation
dependent. It is the age 85 and older population that is especially
vulnerable to having to give up their keys and become transportation
dependent.
Seniors who no longer drive often
face a variety gaps in transportation. Family members, friends, and
neighbors may not be available to help and they may not be able to
access the transportation services provided by public and
paratransit system. Quite often the gaps are filled by
community-based transportation options that are provided by
non-profit organizations, human service agencies and volunteer
groups. The drivers may be paid or volunteer; the vehicles may be
buses, vans, or autos; the schedules may be weekdays, weekdays,
weekends or 24/7, and the destinations may focus on non-emergency
medical trips, quality of life trips, or both. In other words,
there are many approaches and many models for filling the gaps and
supplementing traditional transportation services that may not be
organized or equipped to meet the needs of senior riders who no
longer drive.
These community based
transportation options for seniors are the focus of the Beverly
Foundation’s research, demonstration, and technical assistance
activities. What follows are some questions that consumers
frequently ask.
Question: Why is there so
much in the media today about senior driver safety?
Answer
Question: What can
seniors do to improve or manage their
driving skills so they can keep driving?
Answer
Question: What are some of
the indicators that maybe it is time to give up the keys?
Answer
Question: What can family
members do when they think an older family member
needs to give up the keys?
Answer
Question: What are some of
the concerns seniors express about stopping to
drive?
Answer
Question: I have heard you
talk about “transportation as the tie that
binds”. What do you mean by that?
Answer
Question: What kinds of
transportation options are available (for my
mother, father family member) when he/she stops driving.
Answer
Question:
Seniors seem to have a difficult time with some of the
transportation options that are available.
What do we need to do to make them senior friendly?
Answer
Question: Why, when the
United States has such wealth, should we depend on the kindness of
volunteer drivers to provide transportation
for older adults?
Answer
Question: Where can I go to
find more information about transportation options
for older adults?
Answer
Click here for a list of all of the
questions and answers.
