Mobility and Aging in Collaboration (MAGIC): A Transportation Platform for Older Adults

About

 This Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC) Stage 1 project will fund research that addresses the pressing challenge of providing diverse transportation options for older adults (aged 65 and above). The goal is to create user-friendly tools and applications that help older adults find safe, reliable transportation to essential destinations like medical appointments, grocery stores, and recreational activities by leveraging existing community resources and social networks. Social networks play a crucial role in facilitating mobility for older adults, emphasizing the importance of community-based transportation solutions. By improving understanding of how these networks and resources influence transportation options, the research project will strive to develop new transportation solutions that better meet the daily needs of older adults. The research project, titled Mobility and Aging in Collaboration (MAGIC), aims to enhance the quality of life for older adults by increasing their accessibility to essential services, thereby promoting independence and well-being. Additionally, the project will foster partnerships among academia, transportation professionals, and civic operators, and provide educational opportunities for students from underrepresented groups in engineering.

The overarching objective of this research project is to determine the degree of impact of a collaborative transportation service on the independence, well-being, and quality of life of older adults. This objective will be accomplished by developing and implementing a collaborative transportation platform for older adults. This platform will optimize the coordination of existing community resources and social networks to create a new collaborative mobility option by applying information technologies, artificial intelligence, and operations research techniques. The specific objective of this planning grant (Stage 1) is to strengthen collaborations with relevant stakeholders, clarify the roles of academic and civic team members, and refine the vision and plan for executing this research-centered pilot project. This research will advance our understanding of the potential of social networks and community resources in addressing transportation challenges faced by older adults. The project will also provide local transportation providers with a low-cost solution to integrate their services, addressing the resource allocation challenges they encounter when serving these disadvantaged demographics.

This project is in response to the Civic Innovation Challenge program’s Track B. Bridging the gap between essential resources and services & community needs and is a collaboration between NSF, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Energy.

Help Us Advance Our Research—Take a Quick Survey!

We value your insights! If you or someone you know is involved in transportation or caregiving for adults aged 65 and older, your input can make a difference.

• Are you 65 years or older? Share your experiences by filling out this survey.
• Do you provide transportation for adults 65 years or older? Whether you work for an organization, a non-profit, or assist a relative, we’d love to hear from you. Please complete this survey.
• Are you a caregiver for adults 65 years or older? Whether you’re a family member, relative, or professional caregiver, your perspective matters. Please take this survey.

Your participation helps us improve transportation and caregiving services for older adults. Thank you for your time and support!

Research Design & Interviews

As part of our ongoing efforts to design the MAGIC platform—an AI-powered collaborative transportation solution tailored to address the mobility needs of older adults—we conducted comprehensive research involving key stakeholders. Our goal was to gain a deeper understanding of the transportation challenges faced by older adults and how existing community resources and social networks can be optimally coordinated.

To achieve this, we adopted a multi-faceted approach by engaging with three primary groups: older adults, transportation service providers, and family caregivers.

Interviews with Older Adults

We organized semi-structured interviews with adults aged 65 and older, focusing on their transportation challenges, the role of social network in meeting their transportation needs, and what features would be helpful for them if designed a collaborative transportation platform. These conversations helped us uncover critical insights into the role of social networks in arranging rides, and the psychological and physical barriers affecting their mobility. You can participate as an older adult by filling out this survey link.

Interviews with Transportation Service Providers

Recognizing the vital role that local transit agencies, non-profit transportation organizations, and volunteer driver programs play, we conducted in-depth discussions with transportation service providers. We explored how these services operate, the gaps they experience in meeting older adults’ needs, and their willingness to integrate with a technology-driven solution like MAGIC. Their feedback provided a practical perspective on the operational challenges and collaboration opportunities necessary for creating a seamless mobility platform. You can participate as a transportation service provider by filling out the survey in this link.

Interviews with Caregivers

Understanding the perspective of caregivers—whether family members, or friends—was equally important. We gathered information about how they assist older adults with transportation, their concerns regarding safety and reliability, and their openness to using digital platforms to coordinate rides. These insights highlighted the need for user-friendly interfaces and real-time communication features within the MAGIC platform. You can participate as a caregiver by filling out the survey in this link.

Events

MAGIC Workshop