Alternatives for Seniors Who No Longer Drive

SOURCE: www.getting-around.org/home

The United States is facing a revolution in transportation, fueled by its growing population of individuals over the age of 65. The number of older drivers is on the rise--and they are driving more miles and at older ages than prior generations. Although functional abilities are affected by advancing age and some of the common health conditions associated with it, equating older age with a loss of driving ability is a stereotype that jeopardizes the independence of all older drivers, underestimates the financial costs to communities, and doesn’t address the currently inadequate public transportation and mobility alternatives for older adults, especially those living in rural areas.

As our elderly populations grows, so does the need to find mobility solutions that work. In response to The 2003 Santa Monica Farmer’s Market tragedy, Monika White, CEO of the Santa Monica-based, non-profit Center for Healthy Aging enlisted the award-winning documentary film company Wiland-Bell Productions in a national effort to educate Americans about planning for the day when driving is no longer feasible.

The result is the 30-minute documentary “Getting Around—Alternatives for Seniors Who No Longer Drive,” and this companion website. Both are dedicated to successfully maintaining elders’ mobility---and the safety of all of us---by focusing on when its time to give up the keys, helping at-risk elders transition to life-after-driving, and expanding everyone's travel options through improved public transportation and new models for mobility.

To do this, we must first change the discourse about older drivers from one of limitation to one of expanding options. Responsibility for monitoring elders’ fitness-to-drive is a social compact in which we are all stakeholders: the elder driver, family members and friends, physicians and healthcare providers, the DMV, and the community.

Our interactive website offers practical tools, information, and resources for everyone with a stake in the aging and driving issue. We also feature best practice transportation alternatives and innovative pilot programs that demonstrate how to address the great mobility needs of the future, if we begin to plan for them now. As you journey through these pages, you’ll find ample opportunity to share your ideas, tips, and experiences about transitioning to life-after-driving. It’s time to start “Getting Around.” We welcome your feedback and thank you for stopping by.

Tips & Facts

Here are some facts older adults will want to know as they consider new transportation options.

Americans took more than 10.1 billion trips on public transportation in 2006. This is the highest annual rate in 49 years.
83 percent of older Americans agree that public transit provides easy access to the things that they need in everyday life.
From 1995 through 2006, public transportation ridership increased by 30 percent, a growth rate higher than the 12 percent increase in US population and higher than the 24 percent growth in use of the nation's highways over the same period.
Public transportation vehicles now use alternative forms of energy such as electricity and compressed natural gas. Using these forms of energy, public transit vehicles produce 95 percent less carbon monoxide, 90 percent less volatile organic compounds, and half as much carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide.
A Harris Interactive survey of Americans age 65 and older indicated that 80 percent regard public transportation as better than driving alone, especially at night.

senior driving article

DISCLAIMER: Links to other websites or references to products, services or publications do not imply the endorsement or approval of such websites, products, services or publications by Elder Options of Texas. The determination of the need for senior care services and the choice of a facility is an extremely important decision. Please make your own independent investigation.