Journal article 4720 views 3706 downloads
Mobility, accessibility and quality of later life
Charles Musselwhite 
,
Hebba Haddad
,
Hebba Haddad
Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Volume: 11, Issue: 1
Swansea University Author:
Charles Musselwhite
-
PDF | Author's Original
Download (281.88KB)
DOI (Published version): 10.5042/qiaoa.2010.0153
Abstract
Older people today are more active and more mobile than previous generations. However, they continue to suffer a reduction in quality of life when giving up driving. This article reports research carried out to identify the role of mobility and accessibility in older people's self-reported qual...
| Published in: | Quality in Ageing and Older Adults |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1471-7794 |
| Published: |
2010
|
| Online Access: |
Check full text
|
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa14529 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Abstract: |
Older people today are more active and more mobile than previous generations. However, they continue to suffer a reduction in quality of life when giving up driving. This article reports research carried out to identify the role of mobility and accessibility in older people's self-reported quality of life, through an in-depth examination of older people's travel needs. A wholly qualitative approach, utilising a variety of data collection methods including focus groups, interviews and diary completion, was employed with 57 people aged over 65 in the UK, of which 26 were drivers and 31 had recently given up driving. The findings emphasise the importance of mobility for accessing services and shops. However, the reasons why older people travel and the importance of mobility go beyond accessibility to include the desire for independence, control, maintaining status, inclusion, ‘normalness’ and travel for its own sake. All these are related to an individual's perception of quality of life. When older people give up driving, their self-reported quality of life is reduced and this seems very much related to a reduction in affective and aesthetic qualities of mobility that a car affords that walking and using public transport lack. It is suggested that policy and practice needs to consider such motives for travel |
|---|---|
| Keywords: |
older people, active, mobility, quality of life, health, transport |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Issue: |
1 |
| End Page: |
37 |