Giving Up Driving May Be Express Lane To Long-term Care

At first this looks like bad news for us non-drivers; the way it is stated seems to make it sound like driving positively promotes mental health in the elderly. But it ain't necessarily so. It's just the way that cars have become embedded in our western patterns of socialisation.

This probably isn't so much about the process of driving but rather the larger issue of mobility as it relates to a person's independence," added Freeman. "When someone becomes a shut-in due to the loss of their primary transportation, the likelihood that they will require living assistance categorically increases."

So don't let them tell you to drive for your health; the point is to maintain lots of healthy social contact.

ScienceDaily: Giving Up Driving May Be Express Lane To Long-term Care:
Filed in: aging, driving, mind, brain