Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T06:46:22.481Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Transportation Problems of the Rural Elderly: A Needs Assessment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Peter R. Grant  and
Bruce Rice
Peter R. Grant
Affiliation:
University of Saskatchewan
Bruce Rice
Affiliation:
Senior Citizen's Provincial Council
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A mail-out survey method was used to assess the transportation needs of seniors living in relatively remote rural areas of Saskatchewan. In all 1675 questionnaires were returned for an 87% return rate. Results showed that the transportation-disadvantaged were very old widowed women living alone on a small income in a village or small town who were particularly likely to be lonely, in poor health, and physically frail. Two types of transportation needs were identified: the need to make local trips at least once a week and the need for transportation to a district centre at least once a month. Examples of volunteer, locally-run transportation systems that might meet these needs and be cost-effective are reviewed.

Résumé

Nous avons utilisé une méthode d'enquête par correspondance en vue d'obtenir des données sur les besoins en transport des personnes âgées isolées vivant dans les régions rurales éloignées en Saskatchewan. Sur l'ensemble des questionnaires distribués, 1 675 ont été retournés, soit 87%. Les résultats indiquent que les personnes les plus désavantagées sont les veuves très âgées, à faible revenu, qui vivent seules dans un village ou une petite ville et sont souvent fragiles ou en mauvaise santé. Leurs besoins se répartissent en deux groupes: besoin de se déplacer dans un rayon immédiat, et besoin d'avoir accés à un grand centre. Nous passons en revue les utilisations qui peuvent être faites du bénévolat et des moyens de transport locaux en vue de répondre à ces besoins et nous en étudions les incidences économiques.

Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 2 , Issue 3 , November 1983 , pp. 107 - 124
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Auerbach, A. J. The elderly in rural areas: Differences in urban areas and implications for practice. In Ginsberg, L. H., (ed.), Social work in rural communities. New York: Council on Social Work Education, 1976.Google Scholar
Bell, W. G. & Olsen, W. T.An overview of public transportation and the elderly: New directions for social policy. The Gerontologist, 1974, 14, 324–330.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cocks, R.Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation's Rural Transportation Assistance Program. A paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology, Winnipeg, November, 1982.Google Scholar
Cutler, S. J.Transportation and changes in life satisfaction. The Gerontologist, 1975, 15, 155–159.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dillman, D. A.Mail and telephone surveys: The total design method. New York: Wiley, 1978.Google Scholar
Fengler, A. P. & Jensen, L.Perceived and objective conditions as predictors of life satisfaction of urban and non-urban elderly. Journal of Gerontology, 1981, 36(6), 750–752.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fuller, A. M. The rural transportation problem in Canada: The mobility club solution. Procedings of the National Transportation Symposium: Canadian Rehabilitation Council for the Disabled. Toronto, March, 1978.Google Scholar
Government of Canada. Feasbility study of the mobility club concept in rural and small urban centres. Ottawa: Transport Canada, 1978.Google Scholar
Government of Manitoba. Aging in Manitoba: Needs and resources, 1971. Winnipeg, Manitoba: Department of Health and Social Development, 1973.Google Scholar
Government of P. E. I. Toward meeting the needs of senior citizens in Prince Edward Island. Charlottetown, P. E. I.: Department of Health and Social Services, 1981.Google Scholar
Government of Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan rural public transportation policy review. Regina, Saskatchewan: Transportation Agency of Saskatchewan, 1978.Google Scholar
Government of Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Hospital Services Plan Covered Population Statistics, Regina, Saskatchewan: Department of Health, 1981.Google Scholar
Government of the U.S. Special problems of the rural aging. House of Representatives Report No. 93–103. 93rd Congress, 1st session, 1973.Google Scholar
Kim, P. K. H.The low income rural elderly: Under-served victims of public inequity. Community Services Administration. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1981. (Pamphlet 6172–8).Google Scholar
Kivett, V. R.Discriminators of loneliness among the rural elderly. Implications for intervention. The Gerontologist, 1979, 19(1), 108–115.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kivett, V. R. & Lerner, R. M.The rural elderly poor: Economic impact and policy issues. Community services Administration. Washington D. C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1981. (Pamphlet 6172–8).Google Scholar
Kivett, V. R. & Scott, J. P.The rural by-passed elderly: Perspectives on status and needs. Technical Bulletin No. 260. Raleigh: North Carolina Agriculture Research Service, 1979.Google Scholar
Matthews, S. H.Participation of the elderly in a transportation system. The Gerontologist, 1982, 22(1), 26–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McAuley, W. J. & Nutty, C.Resources, service use, and sources of support: A comparison of rural an urban low income elderly. Community Services Administration. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1981. (Pamphlet 6172–8).Google Scholar
National Council on the Aging. Fact book on aging: A profile of America's older population. Washington, D.C. 1978.Google Scholar
Ontario Advisory Council on Senior Citizens. Towards an understanding of the rural elderly. Toronto, Ontario, 1980.Google Scholar
Palmore, E.Facts on aging: A short quiz. The Gerontologist, 1977, 17(4), 315–320.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Patton, C. V.Age groupings and travel in a rural area. Rural Sociology, 1975, 40(1), 55–63.Google Scholar
Senior Citizens' Provincial Council. The Three I's: Independence, Integration, and Involvement. The Philosophical Position of the Senior Citizens' Provincial Council, Regina, Saskatchewan, February, 1975.Google Scholar
Senior Citizens' Provincial Council. Regina social support study. Regina, Saskatchewan, 1981.Google Scholar
Shanas, E.The family as a social support system in old age. The Gerontologist, 1979, 19(2), 169–174.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stolee, P., Rockwood, K., & Robertson, D.The elderly in the community: Report of the Saskatchewan Health Status Survey of the elderly. Part II (Preliminary Report). Saskatchewan: Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 1982.Google Scholar