ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of why mobility issues are important to the well-being of the elderly and then to summarize some current issues being discussed in this area by social scientists in the United States and Europe. Some of the current challenges and developments are similar - thus, they will be addressed jointly (e.g., technological developments that are of interest for older drivers). But we will also draw out the ways in which differences between countries should be noted. We begin by asking the basic question of why mobility is important in old age.