For Individuals

For individual older drivers, maintaining their driving abilities for as long as it is safe means retaining the independence of self-care and access to health promotion and maintenance. As defined by the Americans with Disabilities ACT (ADA) of 1990, many of the instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as shopping, medical visits and money management,²² imply a need for transportation. When older adults are no longer able to drive, they must have access to services or rely on others for retaining independent self-care and health. Therefore, the ADA includes travel in itself as an activity required for independent living.

The ability to drive also may affect health status. Preliminary studies of older drivers show that there may be a relationship between health status and sense of autonomy and the ability to drive. Reactions of a few older drivers were captured in focus groups throughout the United States:²³

• "When they tell me I can't drive, that will be one of the worst events of my life!"
• "I don't want to hear about it."
• "[Giving up your keys] is the hardest thing in the world."
• "I'd stay in bed!"

These quotes support increasing evidence that mobility declines can lead to depression,²⁴ reduced life satisfaction,²⁵ health problems,²⁶ and isolation and loneliness.²⁷ They also illustrate the fears of older individuals of losing their independence and health. In discussions about driving issues and transportation, addressing and validating these fears is a key to successful communication.

²² "IADLs are indicators of functional well-being that measure the ability to perform more complex tasks…. IADLs include: heavy housework; light housework; laundry; preparing meals; shopping for groceries; getting around outside; traveling; managing money; and using a telephone." Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics (2000) "Older Americans 2000: Key Indicators of Well-Being - Appendix C: Glossary." Retrieved from AgingStats.Gov on the World Wide Web: www.agingstats.gov/chartbook2000/glossary.html.

²³ Transportation Research Board Transit Cooperative Research Program (2002) Improving Public Transit Options for Older Persons 66-67. TCRP Report 82, vol. 2: Final Report.

²⁴ Marottolli, R.A., et al. (1995) "Consequences of driving cessation among elderly individuals." Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 43, SA6 (cited in TCRP Report 82, p. 39).

²⁵ Cutler, S.J. (1975) "Transportation and changes in life satisfaction." The Gerontologist 15:155-59.

²⁶ Dobbs, B.M. (1998) "The older driver: Driving and driving cessation." Part II: Driving cessation (draft). Edmonton, Canada: Department of Psychology, University of Alberta (cited in TCRP Report 82, pp. 66-67 ).

²⁷ Russell, D.W., et al. (1997) "Loneliness and nursing home admission among rural older adults." Psychology and Aging 12(4), 574-89 (cited in TCRP Report 82, pp.66-67).