Katherine Freund1, Alycia Bayne2, Laurie Beck3, Alexa Siegfried2, Joe Warren4, Tori Nadel2, Amarjothi Natarajan4. 1. ITN America, 90 Bridge Street, Suite 210, Westbrook, ME 04092 USA. Electronic address: Katherine.Freund@ITNAmerica.org. 2. NORC at the University of Chicago, 4350 East-West Hwy, Suite 800, Bethesda, MD 20814 USA. 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Hwy NE, MS S106-9, Atlanta, GA 30341 USA. Electronic address: LDF8@cdc.gov. 4. ITN America, 90 Bridge Street, Suite 210, Westbrook, ME 04092 USA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Safe and accessible transportation options are important for older adults' health, safety, mobility, and independence. Ride share services may promote older adult health and well-being. This is the first study that describes ride share services available to older adults (65+ years) in the United States, including factors that may affect use of services. METHODS: We analyzed secondary data from two research and administrative databases provided by ITNAmerica, a national non-profit transportation service for older adults: ITNRides, which tracks information on older adults who used ITN in 29 locations across the United States from 1996 to 2019, and Rides in Sight, the largest national data source on ride share services for older adults. We conducted a literature review, and telephone interviews with nine key informants representing ride share services, referral services, and other organizations. We offer a conceptual framework describing factors that may affect older adults' use of ride share services. RESULTS: This study identified 917 non-profit ride share services and eleven for-profit ride share services available for older adults in the United States as of August 2018. Services varied by corporate structure, location, use of technology, and business model. The majority of non-profit services served primarily older adults, while the for-profit services served primarily younger adults. Riders from one multi-site non-profit service had a median age of 82. Use of ride share services is affected by individual needs and preferences; social conditions; and business and policy factors. CONCLUSION: Ride share services may offer a promising alternative to driving for older adults and may help to address negative health consequences associated with driving cessation. Practical applications: These findings may help policy makers, practitioners, and other stakeholders understand older adults' needs related to use of ride share services in order to offer solutions that prioritize public health and safety.
INTRODUCTION: Safe and accessible transportation options are important for older adults' health, safety, mobility, and independence. Ride share services may promote older adult health and well-being. This is the first study that describes ride share services available to older adults (65+ years) in the United States, including factors that may affect use of services. METHODS: We analyzed secondary data from two research and administrative databases provided by ITNAmerica, a national non-profit transportation service for older adults: ITNRides, which tracks information on older adults who used ITN in 29 locations across the United States from 1996 to 2019, and Rides in Sight, the largest national data source on ride share services for older adults. We conducted a literature review, and telephone interviews with nine key informants representing ride share services, referral services, and other organizations. We offer a conceptual framework describing factors that may affect older adults' use of ride share services. RESULTS: This study identified 917 non-profit ride share services and eleven for-profit ride share services available for older adults in the United States as of August 2018. Services varied by corporate structure, location, use of technology, and business model. The majority of non-profit services served primarily older adults, while the for-profit services served primarily younger adults. Riders from one multi-site non-profit service had a median age of 82. Use of ride share services is affected by individual needs and preferences; social conditions; and business and policy factors. CONCLUSION: Ride share services may offer a promising alternative to driving for older adults and may help to address negative health consequences associated with driving cessation. Practical applications: These findings may help policy makers, practitioners, and other stakeholders understand older adults' needs related to use of ride share services in order to offer solutions that prioritize public health and safety.
Authors: William A Satariano; Jack M Guralnik; Richard J Jackson; Richard A Marottoli; Elizabeth A Phelan; Thomas R Prohaska Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2012-06-14 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: André Hajek; Christian Brettschneider; Marion Eisele; Hendrik van den Bussche; Birgitt Wiese; Silke Mamone; Siegfried Weyerer; Jochen Werle; Verena Leve; Michael Pentzek; Susanne Röhr; Janine Stein; Horst Bickel; Edelgard Mösch; Kathrin Heser; Michael Wagner; Martin Scherer; Wolfgang Maier; Steffi G Riedel-Heller; Hans-Helmut König Journal: Arch Gerontol Geriatr Date: 2019-03-07 Impact factor: 3.250