Relationship of health status, functional status, and psychosocial status to driving among elderly with disabilities

Objective. To examine the relationship between driving status and demographics, health status, functional status, and mental and psychosocial status. Methods. The Consumer Assessment Study Interview Battery (CASIB), administered to 697 community dwelling men and women aged 60 to 106, included instruments to measure health, functional status, and mental and psychosocial status. These variables were compared for three groups based on driving status: those still driving, those who had ceased driving, and those who had never driven. Results. Differences among the three groups were found for age, race, gender, income, education level, home ownership, and living situation. Differences among the three groups were found for many measures of health status and all measures of functional, mental, and psychosocial status. Conclusions. Declines in health, functional ability, and cognition are associated with driving cessation. Availability of alternative forms of transportation, whether supplied by the community, friends, or family, may mitigate additional declines in health, function, and psychosocial status.