Abstract:

Transportation is essential to maintaining the health, independence, and social inclusion of older adults. Yet, a significant number of older adults in rural and urban settings have unmet needs due to a lack of responsive forms of transportation in their communities. Over the next several decades, the steadily increasing number of older adults who are transportation disadvantaged due to health and/or mobility challenges, the regionalization of many services, as well as the desire to ‘age in place’ will increase the demand for transportation services outside of traditional modes of transportation (e.g., the private vehicle and/or public transportation). This increased demand for alternate transportation services will be of particular importance in rural areas where public transportation services often are unavailable. In this presentation, we will share the results from our program of research on implementing and evaluating regional models of alternate transportation services for older adults in rural and remote areas of the province. We also will provide an overview of our knowledge translation activities which include our Transportation Toolkit, downloadable reports from our 2017 Provincial Transportation Needs Assessment, our Provincial Online Listing of Alternate Transportation Providers, our Guides to Mobility and Independence, and our collaborative efforts on developing a Community of Practice for organizations or individuals interested in starting or improving alternate transportation services in their communities. Discussion Points (250 words): The discussion will focus on four questions: 1. What is the cost to the individual and to the system of not providing transportation mobility to older adults? 2. What system changes are needed to enhance the transportation mobility of older adults? 3. What funding models are needed to allow for implementation and sustainability of alternate transportation for older adults? 4. What is the role of technology in fostering the transportation mobility of older adults? Conclusion / Take Home Messages (50 – 100 words): The ageing of the population is affecting every segment of society including the demand for responsive modes of transportation. As more and more older adults age in place, policymakers and service providers will need to address the need for more responsive models of transportation services for older adults in rural and urban settings.