Aging Mobility: What is the best way to active aging?
Under the trend of the aging population, the senior population makes up of a significant proportion of the world population. To increase the life satisfaction of seniors, ‘Active Aging’ has been a popular concept. ‘Active aging’ not only means that seniors have a better health status, but the urban systems are also essential to provide them with the sufficient and appropriate support to better accommodate the problems that challenge the senior population.
Transportation and mobility are basic human needs, which help him/her to be connected to the community and other life essential activities that keep seniors healthy and active in the aging process. Unlike the younger generation who are more familiar with smartphone applications for transportation (such as Uber, Google Map, and CitiBike), seniors are more likely to be marginalized by new technological developments. According to the Pew Research Study in 2016, seniors, which occupied 13.6% of the Metro population, were less likely to own a computer, smartphone or have access to the internet. Given that, they tend to have fewer mobility choices than their younger able-bodied neighbors (Anderson and Perrin, 2017).
In order to accommodate the increasing needs of seniors, a more accessible and specialized design platform is needed. One Call-One Click (OC/OC) systems, initiated by the Oregon Special Transportation Fund, will help to alleviate these problems. This project will form partnerships with various non-profit organizations and government institutions, to create a centralized database and call center that allows an entry of data and referral source to generate a complete and comprehensive information on regional transit, paratransit, and personal mobility services. This information will be accessible to consumers, mobility managers, medical and social service providers, and information referral specialists. The system can provide coordinated ride booking, dispatching, and payment, which make it easier for seniors to plan their travels and find the option that works better for them.
Reference:
Anderson, M., & Perrin, A. (2017). Disabled Americans are less likely to use technology. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/07/disabled-americans-are-less-likely-to-use-technology/
