Senior Transportation Issue with Limited Options

The Need for Senior Transportation

Have you seen one of your aging loved one’s driving skills decline in recent memory? Well, if so you’re not alone. Everyday more and more seniors stop driving in the United States. While your loved one quits driving, they also want to be able to remain in their own home. However, seniors in the United States currently face the issue of little outside transportation. This results in our current senior population to be “aging in place” which ultimately affects our loved ones and families. Since aging reduces your loved one’s ability to travel, often they rely on you or someone else to provide them with transportation. With the senior population expected to double by the year 2050, we can expect to see more and more people encounter the senior transportation issue.

Seniors’ Demand for Transportation

Seniors Not Driving

Your aging loved one is one of 49.2 million seniors in the United States. If your loved one is like 80 percent of the senior population then they probably live outside of city limits. Being outside of the city restricts the amount of public transportation that your loved one has access to. Since your loved one may be part of 21 percent of the senior population that does not drive due to their age then little public transportation can make it hard for you and your loved one.

Higher Risk of Driving

A major issue for your loved one and other seniors is the rate that they drive at. Driving rates fall from 88 percent to 69 percent

for people between the ages of 65 and 75. Even though your loved may still be able to provide transportation for themselves, the risk of them driving increases. The amount of deaths per 100 million miles traveled quickly rises for anyone who is over the age of 65.

Public Transportation

With the dangers of driving rising, your loved one may feel public transportation is important to them. In fact, around 21 percent

of seniors feel that being near public transportation is important. While your loved one may find public transit important, it’s not guarantee that they live in area that provides enough of it. Around 11.5 million seniors live in areas that provide poor or little public transportation or other ways to move for seniors.

Who is to Provide Seniors Transportation

Public Transit

Your loved one and many other seniors tend to stop driving once they reach 65. This forces your loved one to rely on cities and townships to provide public transportation for them. Many seniors take advantage of public transportation when they have the chance. In fact, seniors who have access to public transportation account for 12 percent

of all trips. Seniors who use public transportation make about 310 million trips per year. Since your loved one and many over seniors no longer drive, public transportation becomes their only way to get from place to place. A survey done by AARP showed that 14 percent of seniors relied on public transportation as their primary means of transportation.

Care Providers

However, your loved one may be like the rest of the senior population that does not drive or use public transportation. Which means that they rely on you or a caregiver to provide them with transportation. While you may not mind providing care and services for your loved one, it may become time consuming. In this case, you may turn to a care provider to help with your loved ones transportation. Most care providers make life more convenient for everyone involved, especially when it comes to transportation. On average, 78 percent of care providers are able to help seniors with their transportation needs. Some these care providers set up outside transportation for your loved one. In fact, 31 percent provide transportation through outside sources such as public transportation. The other 47 percent of care providers can assist your loved one with their mobility needs using their own vehicle.

National Averages

Car Owners

With all these statistics about the senior transportation issue, you might wonder about what the national averages look like. You and many in your community may be part of the 88 percent of Americans who own some form of vehicle. Around 14 percent of vehicle owners drive motorcycles or bikes. While a younger adult can use a motorcycle or bike as transportation, your loved one and other seniors are unable to ride on these types of vehicles. Since 14 percent of drivers own motorcycles, this brings the amount of Americans who own cars down to 74 percent. This 74 percent are people who would be able to provide your loved one with suitable transportation.

Care Providers

Many adults feel a care provider is a good choice for their loved one. So, you may want to know some statistics on care providers ability to travel. You should know the average amount of time care providers travel when looking for the right care provider. Most care providers are willing to travel around 20 minutes or less to care for seniors. Since your loved one and most seniors live outside of cities, travel times are slightly longer. You could expect the average speed limit to get to your loved one is around 40 miles per hour. This means most care providers would be able to travel around 10 to 15 miles in 20 minutes to care for your loved one.

If you have any question about the senior transportation issue, please contact us today!