Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

2007

Subject Area

Mobility - Mobility aid, Population - Aged, Population - Ageing of the Population, Population - Driving cessation

Abstract

Ageing of the population is one of the major changes being experienced by Australia. New strategies for engaging with older people and providing better services are needed. Much of the discussion around population ageing considers issues associated with an increasing proportion of older people; for example, the provision of health and disability services, and family and community care. However, as population ageing also relates to declining mobility, it has implications for all sectors including transport. Quality of life in old age is related to mobility, although the relationship is not clear, in part because the concept of mobility is not well defined (Metz, 2000). As the objectives in urban transport planning have changed over the last decade, greater emphasis has been placed on assessing the transport needs of the various minority groups that include elderly people (Richardson, 1980). Understanding travel characteristics of the elderly is essential for responding to their mobility and traffic safety needs (Benekohal et al. 1981). Transport provides an essential link to friends, family and the wider community - a vital lifeline to maintaining independence. (UK Department for Transport 1999). It is well known that a lack of mobility can prevent older people from participating in social activities and lead to low morale, depression and loneliness. In this context, this study aims to understand the transport difficulties experienced by older people in the Adelaide metropolitan area. It is a common knowledge that the 'older' population segment, meaning those over the age of 65 years, is rapidly increasing as a proportion of the overall population within Australia. The major factors driving the changes in population and demographic structure over this period are declining fertility and mortality rates. In the past 20 years the demographic structure has shifted away from the younger age-groups to the middle and older age-groups (Figure 1). Over the next 25 years, the distribution of population shifts towards the older age-groups at the expense of the younger age-groups, with little change in the relative size of the middle-age cohorts. (DETYA 2005). Recent Australian projections suggest that the combined impact of more older people, a higher proportion of seniors with licences (especially women) and increasing kilometres travelled can have surprisingly dramatic effects on outcomes. Despite the pace at which South Australia is ageing, there is no overall plan for providing the transportation needs of older people. The key aims of this research project were to examine the population of interest in detail, identify barriers to mobility and methods to overcome them, detail best practices from transportation programs designed to improve travel opportunities for older persons; and identify further innovations. The study used data collected in the primary survey conducted during March 2007. Day-to-day travel surveys of older people (65 years and above) were conducted to obtain essential information on the travel and activity patterns. We also collected general information of each member of the household to develop statistical relationships. This survey has also sought the opinion of the older people in Adelaide with regard to their mobility, especially public transport needs.