Abstract
This cross-sectional exploratory study considers the community mobility and participation of older adults with dementia following a comprehensive driving evaluation. Older adults who stop driving go through changes that may cause health decline. Results of this study show the importance of socially aligned activities and their impact on quality of life, as well as effective areas for OT intervention to minimize the poor outcomes associated with driving retirement.
Primary Author and Speaker: Connor Daws
Additional Authors and Speakers: Peggy Barco
Contributing Authors: David Carr, Michael Wallendorf
As dementia progresses, driving safety is impacted and persons with dementia will eventually need to discontinue driving. Driving retirement has been associated with declining health and increased risk of mortality along with greater risk of nursing home admission. Previous research concluded that older adults are more socially isolated following driving retirement. However, there is little evidence specifying which out of home activities are impacted after driving retirement. The present exploratory study was intended to examine the impact driving retirement has on community mobility in relation to specific driving destinations, frequency, and newly adopted transportation methods in older adults with dementia. The researchers utilized data collected through the Washington University Fitness to Drive Studies. Participants (n = 102) were older adults with dementia who participated in a comprehensive driving evaluation. After the evaluation, a follow-up telephone survey was completed for all participants and their caregivers approximately one month later. It included questions about common locations visited in a given week, the frequency of these trips, and method(s) of transportation utilized before and after the evaluation. Of the total sample, 57 participants (55.9%) failed the evaluation and were recommended to discontinue driving. Those that failed reported significant decreases in certain socially-aligned activities (visiting family/friends: p < 0.01), but not others (visiting a house of worship: p = .29). All participants reported very few changes in community activities that appear to be IADL-aligned (going to the grocery store: p = 0.40). Finally, those that failed the road test reported that they overwhelmingly turned to family and friends for transportation instead of community resources.
These findings altogether highlight the important role that occupational therapists have in assisting older adults and their caregivers find alternative transportation sources for not only community-based IADL activities but also important social activities. Future studies should focus on maintaining these social activities for overall quality of life after driving retirement.
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