TIME TO GET TRANSPORTATION ON THE AGING POLICY AGENDA

Abstract

Getting where we want to go, when we want to go there is a privilege many Americans take for granted. Mobility enables us to access goods and services in our communities and to work, volunteer, and seek spiritual guidance. Mobility affects our daily lives and the quality of our lives greatly. Our major mode of community mobility is riding in personal occupancy vehicles, either as a driver or a passenger. By 2023, Herbel, Rosenbloom, Stutts, and Welch (2005) estimate that at least 96% of all men and 84% of all women aged 85 and older will be (or will have been) licensed to drive. Given current projections, however, most adults will outlive their safe driving abilities by 7–10 years (Foley, Heimovitz, Guralnik, & Brock, 2002). This presents a challenge because many older persons today live in suburban and rural communities that are not adequately served by public transit. Moreover, very few communities have “seniorfriendly” mobility options that can provide the level of assistance and support that may be needed by community-residing older adults who no longer drive or never drove. Thus, helping people to drive safely for as long as possible through improving vehicle design and roadways and promoting safe driving behavior are important strategies, but we also need to pay attention to medical conditions that affect critical driving skills and help impaired drivers transition to supportive mobility options. Land use, transit planning, livable communities, smart growth, complete streets, and age-friendly communities are all connected—with mobility as the glue. Indeed, transportation is one of the major challenges facing baby boomers. A growing interest in transportation and aging among gerontologists and geriatricians is evidenced by the active research and practice activities of the GSA Transportation and Aging Interest Group that now has over 150 members, and in 2007 it published “A Research Agenda for Advancing Safe Mobility” in The Gerontologist (Dickerson et al., 2007). In addition, the 2008 Joint GSA/AGHE Research, Education, and Practice Symposium on older drivers (Silverstein, Soderstrom, Hardin, Freund, Cohen, & Stav, 2008) generated a special topic issue on education and practice related to older drivers in Gerontology & Geriatrics Education (Silverstein, 2008). Not too long ago, the topic of transportation was covered in one paragraph of a social gerontology text book, if at all, and consisted of examples such as to and from the senior center, the doctor’s office, and the grocery store— and not past 3 p.m. in the afternoon. We clearly need to do more on transportation in our education, research, practice, and policy efforts. Survey after survey of older adults and their family caregivers list transportation as a major need. In fact, the 2005 White House Conference on Aging listed the importance of mobility and transportation options for older Americans as the third of 50 top resolutions voted by the 1,200 delegates brought together to address the key issues affecting our nation’s aging population. But where is the call to action? Transportation seems to be a challenge that many acknowledge but few champion. This is an opportunity for gerontologists to find a place at the table and be a catalyst for change. Coughlin and D’Ambrosio’s edited volume is a welcome contribution to highlighting this issue for gerontologists. The collection is an informative GERONTOUPThe GerontologistGERONT0016-90131758-5341OUPUS