ArticleThe Gerontologist2026
Driving retirement in older adults: a qualitative exploration into their plans, feelings, and support needs.
Article in The Gerontologist, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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6 authors.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectivesDriving retirement is a significant life transition for older adults (aged 65 and older), which has been associated with negative psychosocial and health outcomes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND
methodsThis qualitative study explores eight older adults' plans, feelings, and support needs when stopping driving. After focus groups were conducted, participants were categorized according to Adler and Rottunda's (2006. Older adults' perspectives on driving cessation. Journal of Aging Studies, 20, 227-235) groupings-Proactives, Reluctant Accepters, and Resisters-to examine their nuanced perspectives. Using thematic analysis, key themes were established across groups.
resultsThree primary factors prompted participants across all groups to begin thinking about retiring driving, including: Medical Reasons, Safety Reasons, and Licensing Barriers. Feelings around driving retirement were predominantly negative across groups, with the exception of Acceptance; however, differences between groups were observed where Proactives tended to discuss their feelings in the past tense, whereas Resisters discussed feelings in the present tense. Using the Social Ecological Model, participants across groups highlighted the strong need to enhance support systems at interpersonal, environmental, and policy levels, with a notable absence of discussions regarding individual-level supports. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Findings of this study suggest that driving retirement in older adulthood may be better conceptualized as a phase-based transition, rather than categories. This phase-based approach could better inform clinicians to assist older drivers in navigating their driving retirement transition by integrating early readiness assessments, phase-specific interventions, and post-retirement emotional support. Future research should aim to further explore evidence-based interventions at the individual level that support older adults pre- and post-driving retirement to facilitate a smoother transition whilst promoting well-being.
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