Description of the Action
Create a framework for mobility, driving, and transportation to enhance well-being and inclusion for older adults and people with disabilities.
As people live longer, societies must use ageing-in-place strategies enabling healthy ageing. Community mobility is essential to age-in-place, as older adults need to access medical facilities, stores, and other activities in their communities to maintain their health and well-being and to support their social participation. The aim of this Action is to develop an overarching framework to guide European and country-specific processes in the areas of driving, driving retirement, and usable accessible transportation for older adults.
This action will co-ordinate a cohesive program of tasks in four interlinked working groups mobilising international and cross-cultural development in the areas of: a) assessing driving fitness and retraining of driving capacities; b) driving retirement and transition planning to maintain community mobility; and c) usability and accessibility of alternative transportation modes, including walking and public transport.
Reviewing available evidence and relevant advancements will enable the Action to undertake cross-country comparative studies and analyses of policies, interventions, and best practices, compile up-to-date resources and toolkits with dissemination via publications, public conferences, workshops, and production of online resources.
The Action’s outputs will provide guidance for professionals and stakeholders across Europe and internationally on how to implement methods of enabling older adults’ community participation through effective and safe use of all available transportation options. A roadmap for knowledge transfer will be developed, including post-graduate research student exchange. The Action will contribute to the development and sustainability of communities of practice which are envisaged to continue their activities beyond the COST Association funded period.
The main aim of the Action is to develop an overarching framework to guide European and country-specific processes in the areas of driving, driving retirement, and usable accessible transportation for older adults.
Background
BOPALiM addresses the urgent need for inclusive and sustainable mobility solutions for an ageing population across Europe.
Around 1.2 billion vehicles are being driven every day worldwide. It is expected that by 2030 a quarter of European drivers will be over 65 years old. There is a need for experts from a range of disciplines to work together on providing accessible, affordable, secure, and sustainable modes of community mobility, including driving, with consideration for those most at risk of being affected by accidents, social isolation, and reduced social life participation.
For example, research has found that the loss of driving license later in life is associated with earlier admission to long-term care and with increased mortality rates. Hence, transport services have to be planned including older age groups or people living with disabilities, and not just for working-age, healthy and able-bodied people. BOPALiM will focus on these challenges and aims to have an impact at multiple levels and in multiple countries.
Objectives
Participants
BOPALiM is a large international network of experts with background in health, business and economics, geography, medical sciences, psychology, sociology, tourism and transport
BOPALiM is a large international network of experts with background in health, business and economics, geography, medical sciences, psychology, sociology, tourism, transport, who are based on more than 30 countries worldwide.
In addition to most European countries, BOPALiM participants are also based in Canada, South Africa, South Korea and Ukraine. A full list of Action participants and of the Leadership roles are available via COST.
Scientific Programme
A wide range of activities and outputs will become available through this website during BOPALiM. The Scientific Programme includes a wide range of activities and outputs, for example Working Group meetings, Training Schools, STSMs, Policy Briefs, vignettes and research publications.
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