Tips for transporting elderly with: mobility challenges

We want to see our friends, family and go to the shops. We want to have a day at the park, beach or art gallery. And our hobbies may be spread out across town.

But what happens when our mobility hampers our ability to get up and go whenever we want? In this guide, we’re going to explore the topic of transport as an elderly person with mobility impairment and ways that one may make this process easier.

Regularly test eyes and motor skills

If you’re driving to your various destinations across the week, you’ll want to make sure that vision and motor skills are at a level that accommodates this. Your doctor will be the best first port of call here, especially when diagnosing your motor skills, reaction times and hearing. An optometrist will provide a more detailed assessment of your vision, which in most places needs to meet a baseline standard to continue holding a drivers licence.

It’s important to make these checks regularly, especially if you have a condition that presents as degenerating mobility or senses. Your health provider(s) will be the best placed to consult as to your fit for driving. If you aren’t quite at the level for driving a car, you may still be able to retain some independence on an electric mobility scooter.

Adjust car settings to allow for comfortable driving

The following is not official road safety information. Please consult with your local authorities for more specific guidance around driving and precautions.

Much like our preferences and settings change in the home with ageing and mobility reduction, so too does our car’s configuration. If your posture is affected by condition or age, your seat may need to be raised by the car’s seat setting and with the help of additional car seat inserts. You may also need backrests to support a safe driving position or for additional comfort.

Mirrors will need to be checked regularly to ensure you have full visibility around the vehicle. If you’re finding that the standard mirror on the car doesn’t adequately provide safe views from all angles, you may wish to invest in some 3rd party mirrors to reveal any remaining blindspots. Note you should always check manually and not rely on mirrors entirely.

Keep car well maintained

A well maintained vehicle is a smart decision for any car owner. For an elderly person with mobility challenges, keeping up to date with the car’s servicing and repair will reduce the chance of breakdowns and being caught in a remote location. If the vehicle is not properly serviced you may also have a higher risk of accident from issues such as worn brakes, transmission failure or faulty lights.

You can also speak with your vehicle service provider or mechanic about options to make the vehicle easier for your needs as a mobility imparied elderly person.

Use a good GPS solution

Navigation systems are excellent as they can help us get to where we need to be without the distraction of traditional maps or passenger navigating. Having a maps app on your phone or an inbuilt GPS in your vehicle is an extra layer of support when you’re focusing on safe driving.

Invest in a good mobility scooter for shorter distances

Driving isn’t for everyone, and when someone in our senior citizen community gets to a certain level of mobility impairment, it’s just not an option. Luckily mobility scooters are a vehicle category that’s purpose designed for elderly users who want the freedom of solo travel without the risks associated with driving a car whilst physically impaired.

For short distance travelling, such as getting from home to the grocery store or shopping mall, a mobility scooter may be an excellent investment. While not cheap, they can certainly pay for themselves over a medium-long term and give users much more independence than ride services or relying on family for transport.

These scooters are usually controlled by hand only, with a motorbike style handle bar layout and multiple speed settings. They also provide baskets and other storage compartments so you can bring bags of shopping back home with you.

Accompany family or friends on group trips to reduce driving

Transport with family or friends is a really great way to stay moving around without any worry of driving yourself. Whether it’s a weekly catch up or an event, travelling with family unlocks further distances than your local area and comes with no costs of public transport or private paid ride services.

Going on holiday with friends and family such as a road trip is also an excellent way to go and explore without the worry of driving yourself. The built in advantage here is you have help at the destination and it’s a great opportunity to catch up with your loved ones!

Make use of community or senior support travel services

Relying upon family or friends isn’t practical all the time. They have their own commitments and routines to consider.

When you have something you want to attend such as a live performance, you can make use of a driving service – either one paid for privately or funded through public health (this will depend on where you live). These services are great as they can be tailored around your activities and schedule. The downside here is that if you don’t have the budget or funding option, they might be too expensive. But shop around and you may find that even making use of this once or twice a week gives you a sense of freedom amongst other transport options, too.

Otherwise, you may have access to discounted public transport such as the train, bus or ferry. Many countries have discounted rates for seniors.

The information in this guide is intended as general information only and is not a replacement for official health guidance by your local medical providers. Please always consult an occupational therapist and/or local healthcare for more specific guidance.

More information about this topic:

You can find useful information about this topic across the web via the following excellent online resources:

• Public transport for people with disabilities or over 65 – NZTA
• Transportation: What Caregivers Need to Know – AARP
• Your right to transport – Australian Human Rights Commission