You can take the people out of the car, but you can't take the car out of the people…or can you? How ten older adults have transitioned from the private automobile to public transit – and the role for social work

Background:

As our nation's older adult population doubles in the next 20 years, transportation for older adults is a critical component for their health and mobility. For disabled older adults, transportation is an even more vital component to health. For many, the automobile is no longer a viable option and disabled older adults must transition to public transit as their primary source of transportation. Social Workers play a critical role within the field of public health in ensuring that the older adult population has access to the necessary means of transportation that enables them to achieve their highest possible quality of life.

Methodology:

This study analyzes ten in-depth case-study interviews with disabled older adults who have successfully made the transition from the private automobile to public transit.

Results:

Anticipated results for this study will reveal that, while there are challenges, disabled older adults who have transitioned from the private automobile to public transit have done so successfully and have been able to maintain independent mobility.

Discussion / Implications:

This presentation will benefit social work public health professionals, as well as the elderly population. Social work public health professionals will be able to immediately apply the real-life knowledge that will be acquired from this presentation to their work with older adults who are making transportation transitions. The presentation will also include a discussion on how this study can benefit other older adults whom have not yet transitioned to using public transit by enabling them to learn from their peers.