'…it's hard to prepare yourself, it's like a death': barriers and facilitators to older people discussing and planning for driving retirement

Nadine Veerhuis; Victoria Traynor; Melanie Randle

doi:10.1017/S0144686X22001064

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'…it's hard to prepare yourself, it's like a death': barriers and facilitators to older people discussing and planning for driving retirement

Journal article

Peer reviewed

'…it's hard to prepare yourself, it's like a death': barriers and facilitators to older people discussing and planning for driving retirement

Nadine Veerhuis, Victoria Traynor and Melanie Randle

Ageing and Society, Vol.44(8), pp.1831-1857

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X22001064

Abstract

older people

ageing

driving cessation

planning

decision making

Driving is the preferred mode of transport for many older drivers, providing mobility to maintain independence and quality of life. The loss of driving privilege has negative psychosocial consequences, including depression. Early discussions and planning for driving retirement are therefore essential. Driving retirement, however, is typically a taboo topic for older drivers and their support networks. To understand why discussions and planning about driving retirement are avoided, 43 semi-structured interviews were conducted with older drivers in New South Wales, Australia. Drawing on Löckenhoff's ageing and decision-making framework, thematic analysis of transcripts offers insights into why discussions and planning for driving retirement are avoided or facilitated. The findings reveal most older drivers had not discussed or planned for driving retirement. Barriers to discussing and planning for driving retirement included: perceptions of loss, change, death and denial. Facilitators to discussing or planning for driving retirement included: declining health and driving confidence, medical advice, age or car accident. Driving retirement in car-dependent societies is a major life event, symbolising an end-of-life stage for many older people. This paper calls for strategies to encourage early and regular discussions about driving retirement with older drivers. To support older drivers’ transition to driving retirement, an understanding of the value and meaning placed on driving in the context of the individuals' identity and lifestyle is recommended.

Details

Title: '…it's hard to prepare yourself, it's like a death': barriers and facilitators to older people discussing and planning for driving retirement
Authors: Nadine Veerhuis (Corresponding Author) - University of Wollongong
Victoria Traynor - University of Wollongong
Melanie Randle - University of Wollongong
Publication details: Ageing and Society, Vol.44(8), pp.1831-1857
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date published: 2024
DOI: 10.1017/S0144686X22001064
ISSN: 1469-1779
Grant note: This work was supported by the University of Wollongong (Global Challenges grant scheme).
Organisation Unit: Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; School of Health; School of Health - Nursing
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991130085802621
Output Type: Journal article