The Complex Web of Senior Mobility Services

Mobility, in the strictest sense meaning a person’s ability to travel, is often accompanied by many obvious benefits; when mobility is lost and viable alternatives are unavailable, those benefits are also lost. Senior mobility is of particular concern due to the potential consequences of their lost mobility. If older drivers are no longer able to drive, what is the statewide or regional structure by which their mobility can be maintained? Central to this research is the determination of the existing structure for providing mobility to non-driving seniors in Massachusetts. To this end, this research included the administration of a nationwide survey aimed at developing an understanding of the existing structure in other states. The targeted audience included individuals and groups who have direct knowledge of their jurisdiction’s older driver mobility options. The respondents representing 39 states provided an array of knowledge in the various aspects of senior mobility. Generally, there seemed to be an overall lack of cohesion by which older driver mobility was provided. A simplified model of the general Massachusetts’ mobility structure and a more complex model of its programs were developed in an effort to better understand the statewide mobility system structure for non-driving seniors. A major conclusion is that in the future, an evaluation system should be established both statewide and locally in order to provide seniors and other community members with the information they need to make informed decisions regarding their available mobility options.