Volunteer drivers: their contributions to older adults and to themselves.

In 2004 and 2005 the Beverly Foundation surveyed volunteer drivers in an effort to better understand how and why they support older adults. The sample comprised 714 volunteer drivers from 367 communities, representing 40 states, who responded to the survey. Their responses provided qualitative and quantitative information about who they are, why they volunteer, the challenges they face, and the satisfaction they receive from volunteering to drive. They also addressed current topics including mobility and transportation for older adults, volunteerism and civic engagement, and an innovative method of joining the two sides of aging--the "wellderly" and the elderly. The involvement of volunteer drivers and the organizations that enable them to provide transportation services may be one solution for today and a hope of the future for meeting the transportation needs of older adults.