Unlike planning for future healthcare and financial needs, few current drivers prepare for the 6–10 years former drivers live after driving cessation. Family and healthcare providers are most often involved in drivers’ decisions about cessation; however, little is known about the extent of these conversations, especially from the drivers’ perspective. From a larger transportation survey (n=874), current drivers (n=624) reported discussions regarding a nondriving future with three stakeholder groups: spouse/partner, adult children/grandchildren, and healthcare providers. In this sample (83% female, 74% Black, mean age 72.0 ± 7.1 years, range 53–92), fewer than 10% reported serious discussions with any group. Over 60% of drivers with family had not talked at all with their spouses or adult (grand)children about future transportation needs. Even more (87%) had not discussed the topic with healthcare providers. Black drivers reported significantly more discussions with adult (grand)children and providers compared to White drivers (Pearson X2(1)= 4.06, p=.04); there were no racial differences between talking with spouses, or by gender with any stakeholder groups. In binary logistic regression models, race significantly predicted provider (p=.02), but not family, discussions. These results show that most current drivers do not engage with salient stakeholders in planning for a nondriving future, which may leave them vulnerable to unnecessary mobility loss after driving cessation. Therefore, interventions that encourage early mobility counseling will need to include fundamental communication and planning even among existing relationships, with the end goal of improving outcomes for former drivers.
展开▼
