Introduction
If you are an older adult who is concerned about mobility or who has difficulty driving, you might want to consider transportation services. These services are available for seniors living in the community. They can help you get to medical appointments, run errands, go grocery shopping and other activities, as well as provide companionship during these excursions.
The availability of transportation services for older adults is due to the cultural shift in how people are getting around nowadays. More people are using bikes and public transit systems because it’s cheaper than owning a vehicle or paying monthly fees for drivers on demand which can be costly over time.
After the aging population of the United States, transportation for seniors is becoming a topic of increased importance. Many older adults are faced with being left at home to care for their fragile loved ones or faced with being unable to do so because of a lack of transportation options. Impacts on this are significant because it becomes more difficult for these individuals to maintain their independence and participate in their communities.
What Causes Transportation Services For Older Adults?
The Census Bureau of the United States reports that nearly 20 million seniors in the country don’t have any type of transportation. Of those, the majority have cognitive impairment or are unable to drive a car due to health concerns. This means that these individuals are extremely vulnerable and feel as if they are stranded. A 2011 survey by AAA found that 67% of drivers over the age of 55 reported driving alone because they couldn’t find affordable transportation for their trips. Older adults who lack access to transportation may also be at higher risk for falling
This paper will explore how much transportation services can improve social functioning; specifically, what role transportation service providers can play in improving social functioning for older adults and how they might implement these changes as part of a broader integrated strategy.
Transportation Services For Older Adults
1. Impacts on Social Functioning
Definition of Impacts
Social functioning is a measurement of how well one is able to participate in their community, family and work life. Social functioning includes everything from participation in social activities (e.g., church, volunteer work), involvement in politics and city issues, family ties and communication with others (e.g., neighbors, friends), to social support (e.g., co-residents, friends). Impacts are measured by take the number of resources used to explain the social functioning index and the impact it has on society as a whole
2. Impact of Transportation on Social Functioning
Transportation has a huge impact on social functioning. The ability to maintain physical activity and social interactions is essential for overall health. It is well documented in research that older adults who walk or use other means of transportation are healthier than those who do not. Researchers have also found that the elderly tend to be less dependent on others, so they are more independent when it comes to providing transportation options
3. Moving From Population Based And Systemic To Individualized Responses
The shift from population based and systemic responses to individualized responses is one of the greatest challenges facing those working in public policy today. While many social programs were built on the idea of providing assistance to large groups of people, what we see today is a re-emergence of the “individual” as the focus. The way in which transportation services are currently being implemented lacks an individualized approach, thus leaving room for larger problems with transportation at large.
4. Needs Assessment For Transportation And Social Functioning
A needs assessment is a process that determines exactly how many transportation options are needed to meet the specific needs of older adults. This needs assessment should first be designed by working with the users and policy makers, and then using guidelines from place based assessments to provide regional goals accordingly.
5. How To Intervene and Implement Transportation For Older Adults
Doctors, nurses and amputees are the most common groups that are not able to use a wheelchair for transportation. The CDC recommends all of these individuals have access to accessible, affordable transportation with a motorized wheelchair or by using a power chair. In addition, all people over the age of 65 should receive accessible, affordable transportation services which means that they must be able to interact with their environment in the same way as someone without disabilities can when they need this type of transport.
6. How To Support Social Functioning With Transportation For Older Adults
Research shows that older adults who have access to personal assistance also tend to have better social interactions. This is because they have the freedom to participate in social activities that would otherwise be difficult or impossible if they did not have this support.
7. Ideas To Improve Social Functioning And Transportation Services For Older Adults
There are a couple of key ways that transportation services can improve social functioning for older adults. First, there should be an increase in accessibility and affordability of transportation services for the elderly. Second, there should be more personal assistance programs available for these individuals and their families to use. Finally, federal and state governments need to consider other policies that would help to improve accessibility and affordability through community based transportation projects and programs.
Conclusion
Transportation services for older adults can have a large impact on social functioning. By helping to increase physical activity, providing access to health care services and making it easier for seniors to participate in family, work and social activities, they are improving their overall well-being. Unfortunately this is not the case today and many older adults are suffering because of a lack of transportation options that are affordable or accessible. The challenge moving forward will be to improve transportation accessibility and affordability while also integrating personal assistance programs in order to help reduce the burden on families dealing with aging parents or loved ones.
As we know, transportation services are extremely important for older adults in order to maintain their independence. This can be done by creating more accessible and affordable options for people over the age of 65, and also creating more personal assistance options for them to have when they need it. On top of this, there should be a push from federal and state governments to consider other policies that would help improve accessibility and affordability through community based transportation projects and programs.