Growing older commonly involves more restrictions on movement. Whether due to cognitive and physical challenges or living in an area with fewer walking opportunities, seniors typically see a reduction in their ability to leave their home over time. This is why accessible senior transportation services are an essential part of the community. Free transportation for people 50+ can mean the difference between a happy, healthy life in one’s later years and consistent mental and physical health struggles.
However, senior transportation services offer many hidden benefits that often go unnoticed. While it is true that they can get your loved one where they need to go, keep them social, and provide opportunities to run errands, such services provide much more.
Reduction in Mortality
Did you know that as many as 33% of people age 65 and older fit the criteria for complete social isolation? Being trapped at home due to a lack of transportation options leads to isolation, which has, in turn, been linked to a 26% increased risk of death from all causes. In other words, older folks who are forced to stay at home have more health problems and do not live as long, on average, as their peers who have plentiful access to transportation outside the home.
In addition, seniors who can utilize such services can further reduce their mortality risk because they can give up driving. Between the ages of 65 and 70, a person is 1.29 times more likely to die in a car crash compared to their younger peers. By the time they reach age 85, this figure increases to 3.74. Senior transportation services save lives!
Better Sleep and Energy
Many older individuals struggle with maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. They may feel tired during the day or wakeful at night. In some cases, this may be caused by an irregular circadian rhythm: the internal clock that governs when a person feels awake and when they become sleepy.
Access to senior transportation options can get an otherwise housebound individual out into the sunlight, which is strongly associated with a more regulated circadian rhythm. Your loved one may have more energy, sleep better, and be in a better mood if they can get out into the fresh air on occasion.
Better Adherence to Medical Treatments
An aging individual is much more likely than younger adults to be following a medical schedule, such as daily prescription medications or frequent trips to the doctor. However, studies indicate that older adults are less likely than any other age group to neglect doctor visits, with difficulty accessing transportation being one of the most common causes.
An inability to see the doctor and subsequent failure to attend scheduled appointments were associated with an eight times greater increase in mortality compared to those who attended on schedule. Senior transportation services can lead to better adherence to prescribed medical treatments, reducing the risk of death from all causes while increasing patient comfort through appropriate and meaningful treatments.
Improved Familial Relationships
Your family may love your older relatives deeply, but this does not mean that providing consistent care is easy. Studies show that between 30% and 70% of caregivers experience burnout while taking care of their loved one (depending on the medical conditions with which their family member is struggling). Being consistently relied upon to provide transportation is one of the largest stressors, taking up a significant portion of the family’s free time and resources.
Senior transportation services can help ease this challenge, offering a safe option for older individuals to secure their own transportation, thereby increasing the likelihood of maintaining positive relationships with family by reducing stress, guilt, and financial strain. This also preserves a person’s independence, promoting a more actualized sense of self that may reflect positively in interactions with others.
Help Your Loved One Stay Mobile, No Matter Their Age
Senior transportation services are an invaluable part of a community’s infrastructure for aging individuals. While it offers advantages such as the ability to run errands or get to social functions, it provides many more benefits that often go unnoticed. Many local communities provide a variety of transit options, from senior-accessible public transportation options to volunteer groups that provide more targeted support. The Shepherd’s Center is one such example of a senior-focused volunteer effort.
Contact us to discover how the Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia is making a difference in communities, including Oakton, Vienna, Dunn Loring-Merrifield, Great Falls, Herndon, and Reston. If you’re outside these areas but have questions, give us a call, and we’ll guide you to the Shepherd’s Center nearest to you!