Thousands of over-75s are becoming increasingly isolated because of transport cuts and unsuitable bus services, and are becoming "trapped in their own homes", despite free bus passes.
A damning survey by the charity WRVS shows that one in seven pensioners in the region have been directly affected by budget cuts to public transport, and those cuts have had a "devastating impact" on their "sense of happiness and wellbeing".
The survey has led to calls for a halt to more cuts to bus routes and trains, especially in rural areas where older people could be left unable to access shops, friends, healthcare and other community facilities the rest of us take for granted.
The WRVS provides door-to-door volunteer drivers in many areas, but rising fuel costs and a shortage of volunteers means services are not as widespread as the charity would like.
David McCullough, the charity's chief executive, said: "Older people shouldn't be confined to their own homes simply because they can't access transport.
"Getting out and about is a basic necessity that many of us take for granted but this report shows it isn't so straightforward for older people who may have mobility issues and we know this can have a devastating impact on wellbeing," he added.
The survey reveals that simple things such as the siting of a bus stop, or the lack of an accessible bus on a particular route could mean the difference between someone over 75, or with mobility issues, being stuck in at home or not.
One in 11 older people – which equates to thousands of over-75s in the West – feel they have lost their independence, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation. The charity says the survey reveals that free bus passes are only useful if the pensioner receiving it can physically get on a bus, or can get to a bus stop.
A staggering 17 per cent – more than one in six – of those aged over 75 in the region, don't use public transport because it isn't suitable for their disabilities – a figure higher in rural areas of Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
"Helping older people to stay active is vital for their good health and ensuring they remain connected is a really important factor in an inclusive society," added Mr McCullough. "Organisations such as WRVS can provide door-to-door community transport services so that older people can maintain an excellent quality of life and stay connected to their local communities which is why community transport schemes are so important," he said.
Now the WRVS is calling on councils, the Government and bus and rail firms not to discriminate against the elderly or disabled.
"The charity is also calling on public transport providers to consider the needs of older people who use their service by providing training for drivers to allow them to help and support older people who need assistance," he added. "They should also consider the placement of bus stops to ensure older people don't have to walk long distances to reach local services, after the report found 18 per cent are unable to manage the walk to or from their nearest method of public transport."
The call was backed by the nation's biggest transport union, the RMT, which called it "shocking". General secretary Bob Crow linked the report to the kind of cuts which have seen rural train stations lose staff to redundancies whose jobs included helping the disabled and elderly access trains
"The shocking news that around a third of a million older people are being socially excluded through transport poverty should have this Government hanging their heads in shame.
"The cuts to station and train staff being bulldozed through by the private train operators and the Government will worsen this scandalous situation and RMT will work with pensioners' groups to fight for access to transport services for all," he added.
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