On the road again: Factors associated with family/friend caregiver-provided transportation

Abstract

IntroductionMany older adults rely on family/friend caregivers to provide transportation following decreasing and/or ceasing driving. Because caregiving is related to negative mental and physical health outcomes, providing consistent transportation could be challenging. However, we need to first understand the predictors of providing transportation before we can begin assessing its implications. Therefore, the aim of this study was to add to the literature that is beginning to examine family/friend caregiver-provided transportation and its associations. MethodsData came from Round 7 of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) and the linked National Survey of Caregiving (NSOC; n = 1103 dyads). Ordinal regression analyses assessed how care recipient transportation, disability, and demographic factors were associated with the frequency of family/friend caregiver-provided transportation. ResultsLess frequent care recipient driving, assisting with shopping, mobility, and bills/banking needs, coresidence, and not being homebound were associated with higher odds of more family/friend caregiver-provided transportation. Caregivers also expected lower odds of providing transportation to care recipients with greater ADL difficulties and with a high school degree or less or a bachelor's degree compared to those with some graduate school or higher. ConclusionsResults of this study suggest that various determinants are related to the odds of family/friend caregiver-provided transportation. This can provide direction for needed targeted interventions, such as services and supports. More research is necessary to help maintain and/or improve mobility in older adulthood and decrease reliance on family/friend caregivers.