Hello everyone! I've been doing some research about COVID-19 and the elderly population, and I would like to share my thoughts on a couple topics. The first one I'll be covering today is transportation. I found surveys from Japan and NSW that ask about the transportation methods the elderly use most often, and the results are summarized below: It is first interesting to look at the variance of transportation methods between age groups within the countries and also between the two countries. However, I should note that since the data come from different surveys, comparisons should be taken with caution. Here are some points that I found most interesting:
Now I will be looking at the data within the context of COVID-19. Both Japan and NSW imposed restrictions on going out and nonessential travel but are now reopening. The transportation method of focus is any type of public transportation (including point-to-point transport in NSW) because it poses the most risk for infection, as people are in close proximity to each other, and it’s a shared space. Although public transportation was not completely restricted in either place, the suggestions or orders to stay at home affect the usage of public transportation. It is reasonable to assume that overall public transportation usage decreased during this time, and this is evident through mobility trends data, like from Facebook, Google, and Apple. From the variety of transportation methods the elderly use in both countries, it’s likely that most individuals are able to adapt and use another transport method, like using a private car, biking, or walking, that pose less of a risk than public transportation. The population group that I’ve noticed that may have difficulty adjusting is the 80+ group in Australia. This is because while the percentage that uses public transportation is similar to the other age groups, another popular form of transportation is the point-to-point and community transport, which may pose a greater risk of infection. It could be that it's more difficult to find an alternative method of transport for the 80+ age group. Another consideration is the 80+ age group in Japan. Although the percentage of drivers decreases significantly, those who are driven by others, both by family and in taxi, increases significantly from the other age groups. The increase in taxi usage could increase risk of infection, but being driven by family could mean that more of those who are 80+ are cared for by their family. This could then make it easier to adjust to COVID-19, as they already have family in their support system. Although being driven is also popular amongst those in the 70-79 and 80+ age group in Australia, the description does not specify if the driver is a family member or someone else. I must say, transportation is far from the only variable that matters with regards to how exposed one is to COVID-19, but it was so interesting to think about how transportation may play a role. Many other variables can also affect how transportation methods change due to COVID-19. For example, it could be that the elderly are not going out at all and others run errands for them, like buying groceries and necessities. If this is the case, then we’d have to look at what transportation method the caregiver uses. But how many people do ask for help from others and how many continue to do things independently? I think independence also plays a role in this because people who value independence may not be inclined to asking for help. Also, if the elderly live far from other family members, or if other family members aren’t able to help, then would they ask for help from formal services or neighbors? It’s interesting to see how intertwined everyone’s lives are. This just demonstrates how everyone is responsible to be responsible during this time because even if we aren’t directly involved with those vulnerable to COVID-19, our actions can still affect them. Sources: https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/download?file=631888 https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/download?file=631889 https://www8.cao.go.jp/kourei/ishiki/h30/gaiyo/ https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/find-facts-about-covid-19 https://toyokeizai.net/sp/visual/tko/covid19/en.html
1 Comment
Yanni Zhang
8/23/2020 08:44:11 am
Very insightful information, and very good findings on transportation pattern for different age groups. Transportation should be taken into consideration globally in the measures to guard against the virus and to help to reduce its spread.
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