Aging in Place: Transportation Options for Maintaining Independence"

As I age, I understand the challenges and concerns that come with aging and driving. Even after cataract surgery, I occasionally have trouble seeing at night if it is raining. It's natural to wonder if you are still physically and mentally able to drive safely and comfortably and at some point, you might need to consider giving up your keys. In my own family, we've seen a range of experiences with aging and driving. My mom drove until she was 90 years old. If you have concerns about your own driving and let’s be honest here, there are options to consider such as public transportation, carpooling with friends or family, and ride-sharing services. It's worth checking to see what resources are available in your community as well.

In this article, you will learn:

• Other options that are potentially available

Questions to Ask?

• Are you still physically and mentally able to drive yourself safely and feel comfortable, if that is how you normally get around?

  • Can you still drive during the day, but find it difficult to drive a night?

  • Have you recently been in a minor accident or multiple accidents?

  • Do you find yourself getting lost going or coming from familiar places?

  • At what point are you willing to quit driving?

In my Mom’s case, she drove until she was 90 years old safely and comfortably. She quit driving at night at about the age of 70 due to trouble seeing well at night. It was only after she had a couple of accidents, thankfully minor, that she gave up her keys. Since she had some dementia and did not have full-time help at home, we took her keys. She would tell us stories of how she went shopping or to someone’s house that day. While we don’t believe she actually did those things it was more of a peace of mind for us to take the keys and know she and everyone on the road were safe. My Dad, whom we thought we would have to pry his keys away from him and argue continually about taking the keys, voluntarily gave up driving at the age of 84. He had been in a couple of small accidents and realized he was a danger to himself and to others. For my Mother-in-law, it was when she forgot how to get home from her long-time hairdresser’s house. Her hairdresser lived about 6 miles from her home. Her husband received a call at 2:30 am, from the police, that she had pulled her car into someone’s driveway and was knocking on the door of a home about 25 miles from her home.

• Are there other options available?

• Do you have friends or family that can drive you to appointments, shopping, and other fun activities?

• Is there a bus or train service conveniently located in your area that you feel comfortable using?

• Are you comfortable with a Taxi service, Uber, or Lyft

• Does your local community have volunteers that can take you to Dr. appts or activities?

Potential alternate solutions:

• Public transportation: Many cities and towns have public bus or train systems that can be a convenient and affordable way for seniors to get around.

• Paratransit services: Some cities offer specialized transportation services for elderly or disabled individuals who are unable to use regular public transportation. These services may have eligibility requirements and may be provided by the city or a private company.

• Ridesharing services: Companies like Uber and Lyft offer rideshare services that can be a convenient option for seniors who no longer drive. These services can be accessed through a smartphone app.

• Volunteer driver programs: Some communities have volunteer driver programs that provide transportation to seniors for appointments or other necessary trips. Check around to see what you might find. I know of a township here in my area that has volunteers take people to Dr. appts. at no charge.

• Private transportation companies: There are private companies that offer transportation services specifically for seniors. These services may be more expensive than other options but can provide a more personalized experience.

• Carpooling with friends or family: If you have friends or family members who are able to drive, you could ask if they would be willing to carpool with you for appointments or other necessary trips.

It's important to consider the safety and reliability of any transportation option you choose. Be sure to research and compare options in your area to find the ones that best meet your needs.

In conclusion, as we age, it's natural to have concerns about driving and whether we are still able to do so safely. In this article, I share my own experiences with aging and driving and my families stories, including a mother who drove until age 90, a father who voluntarily gave up driving at age 84 after a couple of small accidents, and a mother-in-law who stopped driving after getting lost on a familiar route. There are several options for seniors who can no longer drive or have limited mobility, including public transportation, paratransit services, ridesharing services, volunteer driver programs, private transportation companies, and carpooling with friends or family. It's important to consider the safety and reliability of any transportation option and to be honest with ourselves about our abilities. It may also be helpful to research the resources available in your community. Don’t wait for an accident to happen to evaluate your driving skills.