A narrative analysis of the transition from driving to driving cessation in later life: Implications from an occupational lens

Abstract

The transition from driving to driving cessation in older adulthood is considered a major life transition where resulting disruptions can impact sense of self. Such transitions at this life stage offer both a challenge and opportunity to consider the relationship between disruption, adaptation (or not) of occupational patterns, and perceptions of life roles. The current study examines this process of adaptation where the focus is on exploring how disruption, loss, and identity over time are negotiated at this life stage. Semi-structured interviews with each participant explored this process. Based on these interviews and corresponding narrative analysis, the trajectories of each of the five older adults (4 male, 1 female; aged 73-90) were categorized and mapped. The analysis indicated the narrative slopes of three participants were 'progressive' (more ups than downs), one participant was 'stable' (landing where one started), and the remaining participant was 'regressive' (more downs than ups). Results from this study suggest the process of negotiating the transition from driver to non-driver was non-linear, meaning the ensuing adaptations to everyday life involved a major reorganization of occupations and routines. Social support and finding alternative ways of doing were key to negotiating this transition. Challenges experienced during the transition and/or, a failure to adapt, suggests an ongoing and growing disconnect in life roles. Further study of the impact of such disconnection and the ramifications on not only the person but also their social network is warranted.

Inclusivity in Occupational Participation: Life Stories of Bangladeshi With Spinal Cord Injury

“…The equifinality in the participants’ trajectories had positive and negative consequences, but their positivity in developed countries was overwhelming (Sato & Tanimura, 2016). Our finding is consistent with Bertrand et al’s (2021) finding that individuals experienced progress, regress, and stabilization of occupational participation over time. However, occupational participation in low-resource settings is also characterized by exclusion, which indicates societal injustice.…”

Transition from driving to driving-cessation: experience of older persons and caregivers: a descriptive qualitative design

“…The aim of this study was to describe the experience of older persons and caregivers in the transition from driving to driving-cessation. Firstly, analysis of the results showed that driving occupied a central place in the lives of older persons, and was synonymous with freedom and independence, as other studies have already reported [14,15,28].…”

“…Similar results have been reported in other studies [14][15][16][17]30], where loss of freedom, independence, role, and occupation were also reported. The loss of a license is considered as one of the most difficult moments in older persons' lives [28]. In fact, it seems that older adults who gave more importance to drivingrelated identities had more difficulty adapting to alternative solutions, such as the use of public transportation, than those whose identity was not linked to the accessibility and autonomy offered by driving [10].…”