Driving Status and Risk of Entry Into Long-Term Care in Older Adults

Bibliographic Data

ID11023127
AuthorsEllen E Freeman (0000-0002-1403-8427, Ellen E. Freeman, Beatriz Muñoz, and Sheila K. West are with the Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. Stephen J. Gange is with the Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore.), Javier Sagüés (corresponding author), Stephen J Gange (0000-0001-7842-512X, Ellen E. Freeman, Beatriz Muñoz, and Sheila K. West are with the Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. Stephen J. Gange is with the Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore.), Beatriz Muñoz (0000-0002-1281-4859, Ellen E. Freeman, Beatriz Muñoz, and Sheila K. West are with the Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. Stephen J. Gange is with the Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore.), Sheila K West (Ellen E. Freeman, Beatriz Muñoz, and Sheila K. West are with the Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. Stephen J. Gange is with the Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore.)
Year2006
Volume96
Issue7
Pages1254-1259
Publication date2006-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2005.069146
PMID16735633
PMCIDPMC1483865
OpenAlexW16735633
LanguageEN
Citations received19
References cited22

Objectives. Given the importance of driving in American society, older non-drivers may be unable to meet basic needs while living independently. We assessed whether not driving is an independent risk factor for entering long-term care (LTC) institutions. Methods. Data were used from 1593 older adults who participated in the Salisbury Eye Evaluation cohort study and completed an additional telephone survey. Questions on driving status and LTC entry were obtained by self/proxy report. Cox time-dependent regression procedures were used to adjust for demographic and health factors. Results. Former and never drivers had higher hazards of LTC entry after adjustment for demographic and health variables (hazard ratio [HR]=4.85; 95% confidence interval [CI]=3.26, 7.21; and HR=3.53; 95% CI=1.89, 6.58, respectively). Also, having no other drivers in the house was an independent risk factor for LTC entry (HR=1.72; 95% CI=1.15, 2.57). Discussion. Older adults are expected to make good decisions about when to stop driving, but the hardships imposed on older adults by not driving are not widely recognized. Innovative strategies to improve transportation options for older adults should be considered

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