The role of transport and mobility in the health of older people

Abstract

The world's population is ageing. Older people are healthier and more active than previous generations. Living in a hypermobile world, people want to stay connected to dispersed communities as they age. Staying connected to communities and social networks enables older people to contribute and connect with society and is associated with positive mental and physical health, facilitating independence and physical activity while reducing social isolation. Changes in physiology and cognition associated with later life mean longer journeys may have to be curtailed. A shift in focus is needed to fully explore older people, transport and health; a need to be multidisciplinary in approach and to embrace social sciences and arts and humanities. A need to embrace different types of mobilities is needed for a full understanding of ageing, transport and health, moving from literal or corporeal through virtual and potential to imaginative mobility, taking into account aspirations and emotions. Mobility in later life is more than a means of getting to destinations and includes more affective or emotive associations. Cycling and walking is facilitated not just by improving safety but through social and cultural norms. Car driving can be continued safely in later life if people make appropriate and informed decisions about when and how to stop driving; stringent testing of driver ability and skill has as yet had little effect on safety. Bus use facilitates physical activity and keeps people connected but there are concerns for the future of buses. The future of transport may be more community led and involve more sharing of transport modes.

Further examinations of mobility in later life and improving health and wellbeing

“…In conclusion, there is a need to look at the wider relationship between mobility and ageing in relation to health. As we concluded in the last issue (Musselwhite et al, 2015), there is a need to include other constructions of mobility -virtual, potential, imaginative, aspirational, emotive, for example. Murray (in this issue) discusses and notes the importance of using 'mobilities' in order to embrace a transdisciplinary and intergenerational approach to mobility in order to reveal aspects of mobility experiences that are otherwise hidden.…”

European national government approaches to older people's transport system needs

“…To pick up on the examples from above, it becomes important to tackle the stigma associated with asking for lifts for social reasons or using community transport once private transport is no longer an option (see also Green et al, 2014). Taking a longer term view, Musselwhite et al (2015) suggest that encouraging people to use a more diverse range of transport modes earlier in life could help offset some of the negative consequences of driving cessation when it has to take place suddenly as a result of health or other events.…”

Examining the possible impact of daily transport on depression among older adults using an agent-based model

“…Second, daily transport enables and promotes contact with other people and nature, which have positive effects on overall mental health and wellbeing (Kawachi & Berkman, 2001;Ulrich et al, 1991). Older adults with limited daily transport are more likely to live in isolation and thus less likely to participate in meaningful social and cultural activities and maintain supportive social networks (Musselwhite, Holland, & Walker, 2015). Additionally, as a source of physical activity, active transportation has a protective effect on mental health and depression (Barbour & Blumenthal, 2005;De Mello et al, 2013;Mammen & Faulkner, 2013).…”