Students Explore Supportive Transportation Needs of Older Adults

Students in an undergraduate applied research in aging class learned about qualitative research methods by analyzing previously collected narratives. The interviews were with 32 participants who were national experts in senior transportation in the United States. The purpose of the study was to explore the specialized supportive mobility needs of community-residing older adults. The policy goal of the study was to expand the discussion on levels of assistance needed in senior transportation. The educational goal of the study was to expose undergraduate students to qualitative research methods, having them analyze transcripts and audio recordings. In preparation for the research, students reviewed the current literature in transportation and aging and learned that the ability to get to where you want to go, when you want to go there, is a key factor for aging-in-place in our communities. When that ability is compromised, the informal network of family and friends may not be a sustainable transportation option. Students were divided into three analysis groups by the domains of challenges, strategies, and policies and coded themes and subthemes through an iterative process. An important subtheme that emerged was the connection of community mobility to health care outcomes.