The United States is an aging nation. The number of adults aged 65 and older grew by a third from 2010 to 2020 and is expected to increase another 47 percent by 2050. Older Americans are expected to comprise a larger share of the total population and outnumber children within the next decade. These demographic changes are associated with an increase in the average life expectancy, a decrease in the fertility rate, and the aging of the large baby boomer generation—all of whom will be 65 and older by 2030.

The growth in America’s older adult population warrants greater policy focus on social isolation and loneliness, problems more prevalent among older adults. Social isolation is associated with an increased risk of negative physical and mental health effects, including coronary heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression, anxiety, and suicide.

Older adults tend to be more socially isolated and are overrepresented in total deaths by suicide. While social connections tend to decline with age, older adults tend to devote more time to socializing. Despite this, social engagement can be challenging for older adults who struggle with mobility issues or have lost the ability to drive.

Transportation planning has historically emphasized the commute over other types of trips, including social travel. Commute-focused planning will not meet the needs of an aging population with a greater share of adults in retirement. Providing our growing older adult population with robust transportation options that serve social and health-related trips is increasingly vital to reducing social isolation and enhancing public health.

My research will focus on North Carolina, a state with the 9th largest population of older adults in the U.S. that continues to grow due to an influx of migrants from other states. I will examine North Carolina as a case study of Sun Belt states that are popular among retired adults, are relatively car-dependent, have less reliable transit options, and are characterized by a suburban and sprawling built form. Increased concentrations of older adults in auto-dependent Sun Belt states like North Carolina risk exacerbating loneliness if agencies fail to ameliorate older adults’ mobility barriers in these places.

The N.C. Department of Transportation’s NC Moves 2050 Plan summarizes these demographic trends and the transportation challenges they pose for the state. Funding is a major issue; while residents get older and require sufficient transportation alternatives, the state’s tax base shrinks due to a decrease in the number of working-age adults (i.e., 34-64 years old). Three-quarters of N.C. counties have more people over 60 than under 18, and half are expected to have a decrease in the number of working-age adults. The state’s rural areas will face the greatest demographic imbalances.

A network of 172 certified senior centers forms the front line of the state’s critical social infrastructure for older adults. These facilities aim to enhance the well-being of older residents through programs, education, activities, and services, which sometimes include transportation services. In some cases, senior centers also offer support for family caregivers. Most N.C. senior centers are operated by county governments, but some exist as private firms, non-profit organizations, or a part of municipal recreation departments. Certified N.C. senior centers receive funding from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Several entities across the state also operate uncertified senior centers that do not receive DHHS funding.

The extent to which senior centers are adapting to an increasingly older population and addressing transportation-related barriers is understudied. Given the pivotal role these facilities play in reducing social isolation among older adults through programs and services, it is important to understand the challenges they are dealing with and how they are working to foster connection among older adults. My Master’s Project aims to accomplish four goals: