As people age, they begin to lose some of the abilities that enabled them to drive easily. Difficulties with sight, hearing, mental ability and physical agility can impair driving skills. Road signs become harder to read and horns and sirens harder to hear. Decision-making can become slower. Without being able to drive, it can be very hard to access shops and services, and to visit family and friends.
Public transportation can be inadequate to meet the needs of many elderly people. Many areas have no regular, scheduled mass-transit services. Even where such services are available, elderly people may not be able to access them for the same reasons that they find it difficult to drive. Diminished physical and mental abilities can make using mass transit confusing and distressing. Even if an elderly person is able and willing to use public transportation, it may not go to the places they need to go.
Lack of access to transportation can lead to dependence on friends and family for transportation. It is helpful if an elderly person who can no longer drive has people who can offer rides. However, many elderly people do not like to ask for rides, and may find it hard to accept them when offered. Even if they do accept them, it can be distressing to be dependent on others. For this reason, it's important to support elderly people once they stop being able to drive, so that they find it easier to accept and ask for help.
Not every elderly person has a support network of people to give them rides. For these people, it is vital to their quality of life that they can access alternatives. These can include ride-sharing plans and community shuttle services. Such services are not always free, but some charity groups provide them, particularly for attendance at medical appointments and other vital services. It is important that people working with the elderly and their families help elderly people access these services.
