May is Older Americans Month, a time to honor the older adults who enrich our communities every day. It is also an opportunity to reflect on how we can better support healthy and independent aging. In our region, 656,000 residents (almost 15%) have reached their 65th birthday, and nearly 70,000 have celebrated their 85th birthday.1
One key to healthy, independent aging is transportation. Getting around safely and easily is essential for older adults to age in place—to stay in their homes and communities, connected to the friends, families, and services they feel comfortable with.
But for many, transportation becomes more difficult over time:
- According to AAA, older adults are outliving their ability to drive by an average of 7-10 years.2 Many older adults slowly limit their driving before “giving up their keys” to ensure their safety, but still need to get to medical and other essential services. If available, they rely on family members, friends, or caregivers for rides. But those who need frequent rides, due to their health conditions or other needs, have to seek other options for travel.
- Public transit may be available, but getting to your nearest transit stop is not always easy. Some may find that transit is limited during the times of the day or days of the week that they need it. In other cases, public transit does not go where they need to go.
- Many transportation services provided by transit agencies or human service providers are designed to serve older adults and those with limited mobility. However, traveling longer distances, trips crossing county lines, and limitations of service area boundaries all complicate the ability to use these services to meet everyday needs.
- Walking to nearby destinations can feel unsafe due to narrow or missing sidewalks or a lack of amenities like proper lighting that highlights the sidewalk at night.
- Newer mobility options like app-based on-demand ride-hailing services may be difficult to access, or information on the service is hard to find.
These barriers are even more significant for older adults with disabilities. Regionwide, over 30% of individuals aged 65 and older have a disability. This percentage rises sharply with age: more than 70% of adults over 85 have a disability, which can make it difficult to drive or walk to desired destinations.3
When older adults cannot get where they need to go, it can lead to social isolation, poor health outcomes due to missed medical appointments or inactive lifestyle. We can do better planning for these mobility challenges by inviting older adults into planning and helping improve transportation systems that meet their needs. These changes help not just older adults, but everyone, including parents with strollers and anyone who doesn’t drive.
As we recognize Older Americans Month, PSRC is committed to conducting inclusive engagement with older adults. The Coordinated Mobility Plan, a component of the Regional Transportation Plan, addresses the transportation needs of people with accessibility and mobility needs due to their age, income, or ability. PSRC is currently conducting community engagement to incorporate feedback from people experiencing mobility challenges, including older adults. By listening to the lived experiences of older residents and planning with their transportation needs in mind, we can help ensure that all residents, regardless of age, can stay connected and supported.
1 U.S. Census Bureau (2023) American Community Survey, 1-Year Estimates.
2 American Automobile Association (AAA): https://exchange.aaa.com/safety/senior-driver-safety-mobility/, website accessed 5/13/2025.
3 U.S. Census Bureau (2023). American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample.
