FREE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE RECIPIENTS MAY HAVE BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE BUT STILL LACK IN IMPROVING HEALTH

This study aimed to determine if service recipients (SRs) of free transportation services experience better quality of life, health, and function compared to pre-service recipients (PSRs). We conducted a cross-sectional study using personal interviews with 43 PSRs and 30 SRs belonged to a volunteer organization. Outcome measures were Older People’s Quality of Life (QoL), Center for Epidemiology Study-Depression, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). Total sample (N=73) had a mean age of 78.5 years and mostly female (86.3%). The majority of PSRs wanted to go to Drs’ offices (74.4%) and Grocery stores (60.5%), followed by Drug stores (44.2%), when the service becomes available. The figures were substantially smaller among SR (40.0%, 30%, and 13.3%, respectively). In PSRs, 67.4% expected to improve health once they start receiving the service, and 70. 0% of SRs said it did with the service. Using independent t-tests, SRs were significantly better in depression (p<.001), IADL (p=0.29) and most QoL items (life overall, social relationship, home and neighborhood, psychological and emotional well-being and leisure and activities; p=.047-p=.001), except for perceived health and finance. SRs (100%) were very satisfied with the service and drivers, but 80% of SRs said they wished to use more driving services than the allowable four times per month maximum. This limitation was due to the insufficient number of volunteers compared to a large number of people in need. Availability of more volunteer drivers will likely improve SRs health. Effective approaches to increase the number of driving volunteers are necessary.