Who knows more about what older people need than the Eldercare Locator, a government hotline that older people and their family caregivers can call to find help? You might think that people need help the most with housing, food, and health care. But experts at Eldercare Locator say they get more questions about transportation than anything else. Callers need help getting rides to places like the grocery store, doctor's appointments, and places where they can stay involved in their community.
Polls from the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) show that transportation is the top unmet need for older people. The NADTC says, "More than one in five Americans over 65 does not drive. As the number of boomers continues to grow, the demand for transportation is steadily going up." Since 600,000 people stop driving every year, the problem isn't going away any time soon."
Seniors' health and well-being depend on them getting out and about. Many older people can't get to places where they can exercise and meet other people. And many people can't follow doctors' orders because they don't have a way to get there.
A study in the Journal of Community Health said, "Transportation barriers lead to rescheduled or missed appointments, delayed care, and missed or delayed medication use." "These effects could make it harder to take care of people with chronic illnesses, which could lead to worse health outcomes."
Recently, this problem got a lot of attention when many older adults who were given the highest priority to get the COVID-19 vaccine and were eager to do so were unable to get it because they couldn't get to a vaccination site.
When old people give up their cars
Aging changes like vision and hearing loss, less hand-eye coordination, and memory problems, as well as the effects of many common health problems, can make it dangerous for older people to drive. Some older people still drive themselves where they want to go, even though it's not safe for them to do so.
Some people get rides from family and friends. Soon, these unpaid caregivers feel like they are their loved one's taxi service! "Caregivers play a key role in helping older people get where they need to go, and most are happy to help. However, giving rides or setting them up takes a lot of time," says the NADTC. They say that 39% of caregivers spend five to ten hours or more each week driving their loved one to different places, and that almost 30% of those people find the job too much.
Some seniors who gave up their cars can walk or ride their bikes to nearby places, but this can also be dangerous. Researchers from the University of Tsukuba in Japan looked at older people who had stopped driving. They found that even though these people were no longer at risk of causing a car accident, many of them were still hurt in traffic accidents as pedestrians or while riding bikes.
As a result, some seniors decide to move to a community for seniors that offers transportation services. Most people, though, would rather stay in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes. It's important for seniors to know about these ways to get around:
There are buses and trains. There are good public transportation systems in a lot of places, with buses and/or fast transit like light rail and subways. Most offer discounts for people over 60. A NADTC poll, on the other hand, found that only 15% of older adults use these services. This is often because they find them scary or worry that they won't be safe, which is a reasonable worry since many older people could fall or get lost while using public transportation. Your local transit agency may offer classes for seniors to help them learn the routes they'll use, how to pay with smart cards, and if there are special seats and other accommodations for people with disabilities.
The senior bus. Check out senior transportation services like scheduled paratransit vans and door-to-door "dial-a-ride" services with driver help if you're a senior with physical or mental challenges who can't use regular public transportation. (Are you looking for a way to help older people in your community? (Many of these services are run by people who work for free.)
Taxicabs. One problem with senior transportation services is that they aren't always as flexible as they could be. People usually have to book rides ahead of time, and they might have to wait a long time for their van to arrive. You might find it easier to take a taxi. They can be expensive, but if you are a senior in your community, you may be able to get coupons for a discount.
Services for calling a ride. Services like Uber and Lyft that are run by apps are being used by more and more older people these days. Most of the time, these are cheaper than regular taxis, but they are less safe and reliable as a whole. A study from the University of Southern California found that most older users need help and support to learn how to use these new apps. Some companies now offer services for seniors, which is good news.
Care from professionals at home. If your family uses home care to keep a loved one safe at home, don't forget that caregivers can also drive. Get your loved one out and about as much as possible.
The ride is just the start. The Uber driver won't wait with your loved one in the doctor's office or help them to the bathroom. And seniors who are afraid to get involved in the community can feel more confident with the help of a caregiver.
A senior's driver helps the senior get out of the car.
This frees up the family to take care of other things and gives everyone peace of mind. How comforting it was to call Mom and find out that the caretaker took her to the dentist, to her church, and out to lunch with an old friend.
Talk to a reputable home care agency about your choices. It's important to choose an agency whose caregivers are screened, trained, and supervised.
With all the ways to get around that are available to seniors today, not being able to drive shouldn't stop them from having the best quality of life possible.
No comments:
Post a Comment