scholarly journals Balancing Mobility and Driving Safety: Facilitators and Barriers for Driving Frequency Among Older Drivers

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 464-464
Author(s):  
Jiawei Cao ◽  
Jonathon Vivoda
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Productive Aging ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Sensory Function ◽  
Word Recall ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Driving Frequency ◽  
Study Results

Abstract Being able to drive safely ensures older adults’ transportation mobility and independence. It is also a key element for social participation and to achieve productive aging. However, when accounting for driving exposure, crash risk and crashed-related deaths increase for older drivers aged 70 years and plus. By analyzing data from NHATS, this study aimed to assess factors that might affect driving frequency (a five-category ordinal variable that measured how often people drove places). I examined whether productive aging activities (e.g., working, volunteering, caregiving, leisure, religious participation, civic engagement), perceived importance of social participation, mental wellbeing, physical capacity, cognition, sensory function, and community environment were either positively or negatively related to driving frequency. Age, gender, race, household size, marital status, and self-rated health were controlled for in this study. Results from ordinal regression showed that higher driving frequency was observed among older adults who reported that they worked for pay, provided care, visited friends and family, and went out for enjoyment. Higher driving frequency was also related to a higher perception of social participation importance. Inability to walk six blocks, lower scores on delayed word recall, and poorer vision were associated with lower driving frequency. Lower driving frequency was also found among women, married couples, and people with worth health and advanced age (80 years and older). These results suggest that higher driving frequency is associated with active social engagement and participation. New vehicle technologies or alternative transportation services and programs could be implemented to ensure safety, mobility, and social participation.

scholarly journals Examining Risky Driving Behavior Among Older Drivers Using Self-Reported and Objective Data

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 465-465
Author(s):  
Jennifer Zakrajsek ◽  
Lisa Molnar ◽  
David Eby ◽  
David LeBlanc ◽  
Lidia Kostyniuk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Seat Belt ◽  
Driving Behavior ◽  
Video Data ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Driving Frequency ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Risky Driving ◽  
Driving Behaviors ◽  
Study Results

Abstract Motor vehicle crashes represent a significant public health problem. Efforts to improve driving safety are multifaceted, focusing on vehicles, roadways, and drivers with risky driving behaviors playing integral roles in each area. As part of a study to create guidelines for developing risky driving countermeasures, 480 drivers (118 young/18-25, 183 middle-aged/35-55, 179 older/65 and older) completed online surveys measuring driving history, risky driving (frequency of engaging in distracted [using cell phone, texting, eating/drinking, grooming, reaching/interacting] and reckless/aggressive [speeding, tailgating, failing to yield right-of-way, maneuvering unsafely, rolling stops] driving behaviors), and psychosocial characteristics. A cluster analysis using frequency of the risky behaviors and seat belt use identified five risky behavior-clusters: 1) rarely/never distracted-rarely/never reckless/aggressive (n=392); 2) sometimes distracted-rarely/never reckless/aggressive (n=33); 3) sometimes distracted-sometimes reckless/aggressive (n=40); 4) often/always distracted-often/always reckless/aggressive (n=11); 5) no pattern (n=4). Older drivers were more likely in the first/lowest cluster (93.8% of older versus 84.2% of middle-aged and 59.3% of young drivers; p<.0001). Fifteen older drivers participated in a follow-up study in which their vehicles were equipped with a data acquisition system that collected objective driving and video data of all trips for three weeks. Analysis of video data from 145 older driver trips indicated that older drivers engaged in at least one distracted behavior in 115 (79.3%) trips. While preliminary, this suggests considerably more frequent engagement in distracted driving than self-reported and that older drivers should not be excluded from consideration when developing risky driving behavior countermeasures. Full study results and implications will be presented.

scholarly journals Driving Cessation and Social Participation in Late Life: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 464-464
Author(s):  
Weidi Qin
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Driving Cessation ◽  
The Us

Abstract Driving cessation is a major life transition in late life, and can affect the quality of social life in older adults. The present study aims to systematically review the literature on how driving cessation affects social participation among older adults in the US. The study selection followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Extant literature published from 1990 to 2019 that examined driving cessation and social participation or social engagement among older adults in the US was searched using eight search engines: PsycINFO, CINAHL, SocIndex, AgeLine, MedLine, Scopus, Transportation Research Board Publication Index, and Cochrane Library. Quantitative studies that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. The assessment of methodological quality was also conducted for included studies. In total, seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Six of the included studies found significant relationships between driving cessation and at least one domain of social participation, such as volunteering, employment, leisure-time activities, and the frequency of contacts. However, the measures of social participation were inconsistent across studies, which might explain that no effects of driving cessation were found on the structure of social network, such as contacts with friends and extended family. There is a need to assist older adults in successfully transitioning to driving cessation and maintaining the social participation. The overall quality of included studies is moderate based on the assessment of risk of bias and confounding.

scholarly journals Examining Rural and Racial Disparities in the Relationship Between Loneliness and Social Technology Use Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaileigh A. Byrne ◽  
Reza Ghaiumy Anaraky ◽  
Cheryl Dye ◽  
Lesley A. Ross ◽  
Kapil Chalil Madathil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Racial Disparities ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Primary Study ◽  
Social Technology ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Rural Older Adults

Loneliness, the subjective negative experience derived from a lack of meaningful companionship, is associated with heightened vulnerability to adverse health outcomes among older adults. Social technology affords an opportunity to cultivate social connectedness and mitigate loneliness. However, research examining potential inequalities in loneliness is limited. This study investigates racial and rural-urban differences in the relationship between social technology use and loneliness in adults aged 50 and older using data from the 2016 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 4,315). Social technology use was operationalized as the self-reported frequency of communication through Skype, Facebook, or other social media with family and friends. Loneliness was assessed using the UCLA Loneliness scale, and rural-urban differences were based on Beale rural-urban continuum codes. Examinations of race focused on differences between Black/African-American and White/Caucasian groups. A path model analysis was performed to assess whether race and rurality moderated the relationship between social technology use and loneliness, adjusting for living arrangements, age, general computer usage. Social engagement and frequency of social contact with family and friends were included as mediators. The primary study results demonstrated that the association between social technology use and loneliness differed by rurality, but not race. Rural older adults who use social technology less frequently experience greater loneliness than urban older adults. This relationship between social technology and loneliness was mediated by social engagement and frequency of social contact. Furthermore, racial and rural-urban differences in social technology use demonstrated that social technology use is less prevalent among rural older adults than urban and suburban-dwelling older adults; no such racial differences were observed. However, Black older adults report greater levels of perceived social negativity in their relationships compared to White older adults. Interventions seeking to address loneliness using social technology should consider rural and racial disparities.

Visual attention and self-regulation of driving among older adults

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 162-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ozioma C. Okonkwo ◽  
Michael Crowe ◽  
Virginia G. Wadley ◽  
Karlene Ball
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Attention ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Public Safety ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Crash Risk

ABSTRACTBackground: With the number of older drivers increasing, self-regulation of driving has been proposed as a viable means of balancing the autonomy of older adults against the sometimes competing demand of public safety. In this study, we investigate self-regulation of driving among a group of older adults with varying functional abilities.Method: Participants in the study comprised 1,543 drivers aged 75 years or older. They completed an objective measure of visual attention from which crash risk was estimated, and self-report measures of driving avoidance, driving exposure, physical functioning, general health status, and vision. Crash records were obtained from the State Department of Public Safety.Results: Overall, participants were most likely to avoid driving in bad weather followed by driving at night, driving on high traffic roads, driving in unfamiliar areas, and making left-hand turns across oncoming traffic. With the exception of driving at night, drivers at higher risk of crashes generally reported greater avoidance of these driving situations than lower risk drivers. However, across all driving situations a significant proportion of higher risk drivers did not restrict their driving. In general, self-regulation of driving did not result in reduced social engagement.Conclusion: Some older drivers with visual attention impairments do not restrict their driving in difficult situations. There is a need for physicians and family members to discuss driving behaviors with older adults routinely to ensure their safety. The association between visual attention and driving restriction also has implications for interventions aimed at preserving mobility in the elderly.

scholarly journals Saving fall-injured older adults from depressive symptoms: The mediating role of social participation

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 867-868
Author(s):  
Yalu Zhang ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Jiling Sun ◽  
Xinhui Zhang ◽  
Jingjing Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Fixed Effect ◽  
Second Primary ◽  
Fall Injuries ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Multiple Levels

Abstract Falls are the second primary cause of unintentional injury deaths globally. Prior studies found that fall incidences are associated with depressive symptoms among older adults, which could reversely lead to repeated fall incidences. However, few have investigated the role of social interventions in saving fall-injured older adults from experiencing depressive symptoms among older adults. Using the Chinese Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2011-2018 data and multiple levels of fixed-effect analysis, this study examined the potential mediating role of social participation in alternating the effect of fall injuries on depressive symptoms. For the first time, this study specified the fall-injured older adults among those who had fall incidences. It also implemented the current literature by removing the bias caused by unobservable confounding variables at provincial and city levels. The descriptive results show that 22.2% and 20.6% of rural (n=4,972) and urban (n=3,258) older adults (65+), respectively, experienced fall incidences, among whom 45.1% needed one or more times of medical treatment. The fixed-effect results show that for urban older adults, social participation accounted for partial effects (17.2%) of fall injuries on their depressive symptoms. For rural older adults, fall injuries are significantly associated with more depressive symptoms, but social participation no longer functions as the mediator. Findings from this study emphasize the necessity of collecting efforts from multiple levels to improve the social engagement of urban older adults who had fall injuries. Future studies could further specify what types of social participation would be more helpful in buffering the intervention effects.

scholarly journals Increasing quality of life for older adults living in collective dwellings using virtual reality: a feasibility study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Krieger
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Virtual Tourism ◽  
Study Results

The number of older adults living in collective dwellings is increasing. It is important to research effective strategies to maintain and enhance quality of life for older adults living in collective dwellings. Meaningful leisure, such as the ability to travel, is associated with increases in quality of life for older adults. Unfortunately, many older adults, especially those living in collective dwellings, face barriers to travel. Virtual reality (VR) may help older adults living in collective dwellings overcome barriers to travel. The present study examined whether older adults living in collective dwellings tolerated and enjoyed immersive VR, and whether six weeks of virtual tourism affected their quality of life, social engagement, and loneliness. Fourteen older adults living in retirement homes in Toronto participated in this study. Results suggested that participants tolerated immersive VR without experiencing cybersickness, and that they were happier, more excited, and less anxious immediately following VR exposure. Levels of social engagement increased following the six-week virtual tourism program. These quantitative findings were further supported by qualitative interviews. No changes in quality of life or loneliness were found. Limitations include a lack of a control group and small sample size. Addressing these limitations will help to isolate the effects of the virtual tourism program on indices of well-being.

scholarly journals Aging and Personhood in the Landscape of the Mega-Casino: Retirement at the Tables

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-76
Author(s):  
Joy Ciofi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Productive Aging ◽  
Active Aging ◽  
Us History ◽  
Cognitive Activities ◽  
Diverse Setting ◽  
The Many

The retirement of the Boomer generation constitutes the largest wave of retirements in US history. This article examines the ways in which mega-casinos as institutions have become new spaces of aging and important sites where the ideals of retirement can be played out. Based on thirty-two months of fieldwork at two of the US’s largest casinos, I argue that these facilities help older adults maintain their personhood by engaging them socially, mentally, and physically through the myriad services and amenities they offer. Dominating narratives informed by Western economic and medical trends call for ‘active aging,’ ‘productive aging,’ or ‘aging gracefully,’ and these related paradigms emphasize social engagement along with physical and cognitive activities as the keys to thriving in old age. The casino environment simultaneously challenges and facilitates these narratives, providing an age-diverse setting in which seniors can exercise, entertain family, acquire gifts, and earn status. Drawing on David Graeber’s (2001) framework for theorizing value, I assert that it is participation in the many activities of the casino, rather than the monetary wins and losses, that has constituted them as valuable places to sustain personhood and achieve the ideals of an ‘active’ or ‘successful’ retirement.

scholarly journals Increasing quality of life for older adults living in collective dwellings using virtual reality: a feasibility study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Krieger
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Virtual Tourism ◽  
Study Results

The number of older adults living in collective dwellings is increasing. It is important to research effective strategies to maintain and enhance quality of life for older adults living in collective dwellings. Meaningful leisure, such as the ability to travel, is associated with increases in quality of life for older adults. Unfortunately, many older adults, especially those living in collective dwellings, face barriers to travel. Virtual reality (VR) may help older adults living in collective dwellings overcome barriers to travel. The present study examined whether older adults living in collective dwellings tolerated and enjoyed immersive VR, and whether six weeks of virtual tourism affected their quality of life, social engagement, and loneliness. Fourteen older adults living in retirement homes in Toronto participated in this study. Results suggested that participants tolerated immersive VR without experiencing cybersickness, and that they were happier, more excited, and less anxious immediately following VR exposure. Levels of social engagement increased following the six-week virtual tourism program. These quantitative findings were further supported by qualitative interviews. No changes in quality of life or loneliness were found. Limitations include a lack of a control group and small sample size. Addressing these limitations will help to isolate the effects of the virtual tourism program on indices of well-being.

scholarly journals Do Memory Problems in Older Drivers Impact Driving Frequency in Metro Versus Non-Metro Communities?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 156-156
Author(s):  
Tyler Orr ◽  
Randall Rupper
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Metropolitan Areas ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Driving Frequency ◽  
Functional Activities ◽  
Memory Problems ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
Impact Driving ◽  
Poor Memory

Abstract Perceived memory problems may cause older adults to limit functional activities such as driving. For those individuals living in non-metropolitan communities, greater distances between activities, lack of public transportation, and fewer support systems may make reducing driving frequency less feasible. We hypothesized that older adults in non-metropolitan communities would be more likely to continue frequent driving even if they also perceived memory problems. We used the National Health and Aging Trends Study to examine the association between reported memory difficulty and the frequency of driving. These data were then stratified by metropolitan versus non-metropolitan classification using both ordinal logistic regression and Chi-Squared testing. In both metropolitan and non-metropolitan communities, respondents were more likely to report reductions in driving frequency if they also reported memory problems. However, in both metropolitan and non-metropolitan communities, the majority of respondents reporting fair or poor memory continued to report frequent driving; and, there were no statistical differences in frequency of reported driving between metropolitan and non-metropolitan respondents. These analyses suggest that strategies are necessary in both metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas to help older drivers with perceived memory difficulties to recognize when they need to limit driving. Further research is necessary to determine which strategies are likely to be effective in metropolitan and/or non-metropolitan communities.

scholarly journals Effects of a Health Education and Research Participation Enhancement Program on Participation and Autonomy in Diverse Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 233372142092495
Author(s):  
Allison A. Bay ◽  
Lindsay Prizer ◽  
Ahauve Orusa ◽  
Ariel R. Hart ◽  
Molly M. Perkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Research Participation ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Social Relationship Domain ◽  
Total Participation ◽  
Multiple Domains

Social engagement and autonomy are vital for life satisfaction among older adults. We measured multiple domains of social participation and autonomy in 120 adults over age 55 years that were part of an educational program at pretest, posttest, and follow-up. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed for differences between Black and White participants. White participants reported worse engagement in the family role domain and a lower Total Participation Score at posttest than pretest; however, scores returned to baseline levels by follow-up. Black participants reported better levels of participation in the social relationship domain at follow-up than at pretest. We found no evidence of qualitative differences between racial groups. Barriers to social participation and autonomy included challenges related to health, ageism, transportation, and mobility. Adequate housing, social support, socialization, and perception of individual utility contributed to feeling independent. Educational programs for older adults may provide an opportunity for increased social participation.

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