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Learn how to find transportation services for older adults, people with disabilities, veterans, commuters, and others in your community. Learn about how to find transportation services for older adults, people with disabilities, veterans, commuters, and others in your community. If you receive services from a state agency, ask your agency contact person if there are any transportation services you qualify for through that agency.
Welcome to the National Aging and Disability Transportation CenterOur goal is to promote the availability and accessibility of transportation options for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers.Photo Credit: NADTC 2021 Photo Contest 1st Place Winner, ButterFLi, Los Angeles, CA
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Is it Time to Stop Driving?For some seniors the answer is obvious. They may be too visually impaired to
continue driving.
A study of the problems seniors face with transportation was conducted by the Beverly Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Seniordrivers.org summarized their findings with the following themes:
Types of Personal TransportationVolunteer Driver Programs are usually faith-based or nonprofits with a network of volunteers who offer transportation to for shopping, recreation, doctor's appointments and other needs. Reservations are required. Cost is minimal and sometimes free. Para-transit Service: Private agencies provide transportation using minibuses or small vans to the elderly or those with disabilities. Door-through-Door Service: Private agencies provide drivers who offer personal assistance (wheelchair help, help with bags, etc.) through a passenger's door and on through the door of their destination and back. Personal Transportation Options for Seniors Most metro areas will have a number of personal transportation options from mom-and-pop operations to larger organizations like the Supplemental Transportation Programs for Seniors (STPs), which are grassroots organizations run by staff and volunteers and funded through grants and donations. ITN (Independent Transportation Network) America uses paid and volunteer drivers to provide door-to-door service 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. There's a pick up charge and mileage charge with a minimum charge of $9 per location. There's also a $40 membership fee. Assessing a Transportation ProviderAs you begin to research transportation providers, consider these questions:
Common Transportation OptionsThere are a number of specific circumstances that require specialized transportation, but first, let's just cover the basics. You want to go to a movie, or to visit a friend, or maybe it's poker night. It's too far to walk, and your kids aren't around to give you a ride. How do you get there? There are several things you can do. Public TransportationDepending on where you live, there may be a number of public transportation options open to you, including…
These methods can take you where you need to go, usually for a relatively low cost. It's a great option for a lot of people, but there can also be a number of factors that decrease its viability in certain situations. Again, it all depends on where you live. In some areas, there might not be a lot of public transit options, or at least not many that go where you need them to. Cities like New York and Chicago have great public transportation. Cities like Los Angeles and Atlanta, not so much. In areas where public transportation is less efficient, it can end up taking much longer to reach your destination than it would by car. Also, depending on your own level of mobility, making it to the nearest bus stop or train station in the first place may be difficult to impossible. If public transportation isn't viable, you might be able to use private transportation: e.g. a taxi, or a service such as Uber or Lyft. But these options cost more money than buses and trains, and the farther you go, the more expensive they get. Especially if you're on a fixed income, it's not something you'll be able to manage every day. ParatransitEven though there are issues with public transit, there are also ways around them. If you do have problems with mobility, then you may want to consider paratransit: a transportation system specifically designed to accommodate seniors and others with limited mobility. Paratransit vehicles are often buses or even cabs, specifically equipped to handle wheelchairs and the like. They travel the same approximate routes as your local public transit, but are more flexible in their stops and will pick passengers up at their homes. In order to use paratransit, first you need to qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In other words, you need to show that your mobility issues prevent you from taking regular public transit. Qualifications are different in different areas, but factors considered include:
Other OptionsEven if you aren't able to qualify for paratransit, there are still other transportation options offered in some areas, which can accommodate seniors who have trouble getting around. In a lot of communities, you can find transportation services that are either privately run or non-profit and volunteer-based, and which cater specifically to seniors looking to get from point A to point B. AAA even has an online tool that allows you to locate such services in your area. Looking for affordable transportation options? Check out the video with our Editor-in-Chief, Jeff Hoyt, below! Medical Transportation OptionsFinding transportation to go to the grocery store, or to visit friends, is one thing. Finding transportation to go to a doctor's appointment is another matter entirely. Showing up to these appointments, whether it be a test, a medical procedure, or just an ordinary checkup, is vital to your health. Because of this, relying on public transportation might not be the best option in medical situations. Fortunately, when medical necessity is a factor, certain other options are made cheaper and more convenient. Insurance Covered TransportationDepending on your insurance provider, your health coverage may include a certain amount of transportation for medical purposes. In that case, a car, van, or other vehicle will pick you up at your home and take you to your appointment. There may, however, be limitations, such as the number of trips you can take per month. Call your insurance provider and find out what your options are and how to take advantage of them. If you have Medicaid, a significant amount of your medical transportation is covered. If you have Medicare, however, then unfortunately, transportation to routine doctor's visits likely won't be available to you through your insurance. However, depending on your situation, you may be able to utilize an ambulance in certain non-emergency situations, if you have a written note from your doctor, stating that other forms of transportation are a danger to your health, and an ambulance is medically necessary. Low Cost AlternativesEven if your insurance doesn't cover transportation to routine doctor's appointments, there are often independent services you can explore. Many areas have local organizations that provide low cost, non-emergency medical transportation to seniors who don't drive, and/or have limited mobility. Again, do your research and find out what services are convenient to you, and what their options are. Whether it's important medical transportation or just a run of the mill trip into town, once you've secured your ride, you need to know how you're paying for it. If you're living on a fixed income, this might not be easy to do. Public transit may only be a few dollars, but when you're on a tight budget, every dollar counts. So what can you do to cover, or at least mitigate, the costs of transportation? Senior DiscountsIf you use public transit, many cities offer senior discounts, in one form or another. You may have to register for a specific program, or apply for a special senior bus or train pass, or take some other action in order to take advantage of the reduced fare. Some cities, such as Chicago, even allow seniors to ride public transportation free of charge! Research your area's various forms of public transportation and see what they offer. As we mentioned earlier, many communities also have special, often non-profit and volunteer-based services, which provide medical and other forms of transportation to seniors who need help getting around. These services are often door to door, and may be offered at a low cost or even free of charge. Ride SharingAnother option to look into is ride sharing. Taxis can get expensive quickly, but apps like Uber and Lyft have options like ride sharing that can save you money. A ride share is, essentially, a carpool. Rather than having a vehicle simply pick you up and drop you off, it takes multiple people at one time to different destinations, thus defraying the cost for each of them. Assisted Living ServicesIf you're living in an assisted living center, then the facility itself may offer its own transportation services, or partner with an independent service. They may provide you with a discounted rate, or the cost up to a certain amount may be included in your monthly rent. Ask what options they have available. Even if they don't have their own low cost transportation options, they can probably recommend some in the area that can meet your needs and your budget. Long Distance TransportationYou've got transportation around your community covered, but what if you need to go across the country? Maybe you're moving to another state. Maybe an old friend has had an emergency, and you need to go to them. Maybe you just want to go on vacation. Whatever the circumstances, travel can be hard as you get older. But that doesn't mean it can't be done. So it's important to know how to handle it, if and when the situation arises. Initial ConsiderationsThe first thing to consider is your overall health. Certain conditions can make travel difficult or uncomfortable, including…
Talk to your doctor before you leave, to see if any medical issues may make a long distance trip difficult, or if they have any recommendations for how to travel, or what can be done to make it easier. You also need to determine how you'll be traveling. Will someone be driving you? Will you be flying? Will you be taking a train or a bus? And will you be traveling alone, or will someone else go with you? Especially if you have limited mobility, it's better to travel with a close friend or family member. Someone who knows your medical history and is familiar with your needs can help you if any issues arise, and provide pertinent information in the event of an emergency. Traveling During COVID-19Traveling by CarA road trip can be a lot of fun, but it can also be hard on you, if you're not prepared. Remember, it's anywhere from several hours to several days sitting in a confined space. So first of all, make sure you're traveling with someone whose company you'll be able to stand for that long. Second, make sure their vehicle is equipped to seat you comfortably for the duration of the trip, as well as store any apparatus you may have, such as a wheelchair or walker. The roads may be uneven or unpredictable, so if you're prone to carsickness, be sure to take something for it at regular intervals. Budget as many stops as you need into the itinerary as well, for food, sleep, bathroom breaks, or just to stretch your legs. And be sure to bring plenty of your own music with you, in case, somewhere between Texas and Oklahoma, you can't seem to find a good radio station. Remember that the most important thing isn't to get you to your destination quickly, but to get there safely and comfortably, with as little stress as possible. If that makes the trip take a little longer, then so be it. They say getting there is half the fun, anyway! Traveling by AirIf you're flying, check with the airline, as well as any and all airports you'll be stopping at, to see if they can accommodate your needs, whatever they may be. Will they be able to…
It's important to check in advance to see what specific accommodations can be provided, and let the airline know what your needs are, so they can be prepared. If a particular airline or airport doesn't have a good track record in that department, it might behoove you to seek out a different one for your travel needs. The same goes for buses, trains, and other forms of travel. Accommodations may be more difficult in these instances, especially since it's likely to be a longer trip. So always check first to see what they offer and whether or not they can meet your needs and get you to your destination safely. MovingSometimes you have to transport more than just yourself. If you're moving to a new location, you'll also have to transport all of your worldly belongings. As a senior with mobility issues, this often means moving into an assisted living facility. And whether it's across the country or just up the street, it may pose some challenges. SortingThe first step is to determine what you're able to take with you. This can lead to some tough choices. Especially if you've spent years or even decades living in the same place and accumulating more and more things, and now you're moving to a space that's much smaller. Choices will have to be made. You like the painting of a duck you got at a yard sale six years ago, but will you really miss it if it doesn't come with you to your new space? Or will it just be taking up extra room? Get a couple of family members or trusted friends to help you go through all of your stuff and decide what's going to happen to it. Separate it into four categories:
Packing UpOnce all the decisions have been made, everything you're taking with you needs to be packed up and transported to your new place—while everything else needs to be gotten rid of in whatever manner you've decided. If you can, get those same family and friends to pack everything up into boxes, load it onto the moving truck, etc. If you have the money, you can also hire professional movers. There are some who specialize in helping seniors and can make the process easier. Long Distance Moving OptionsIf you're moving to another state, then you may need to hire long distance movers. This can be more expensive. If you are planning on putting some of your things in storage, then it might be easier to rent a storage facility in your current location instead of where you're moving to, in order to limit the amount that needs to be transported. Certain companies, such as Pods, provide flexible long distance moving options that can be helpful. You rent a portable storage container and have either your family or hired professionals pack it up with whatever you're transporting. Then, the company will send someone to drive the container to your new location and drop it off a few days later. Your family can then unpack the container at your leisure and, once it's empty, schedule a day and time for it to be picked up. Depending on your situation, this can be a cheaper and more convenient way of getting your things to where they need to be. Tools and Apps for Senior TransportationOne of the main things to keep in mind when it comes to transportation for seniors is the importance of conducting your own research, in order to find out what options are available in your area, which meet your needs and fall into your price range. Fortunately, there are a number of apps and other tools to help you. Here are a few that may prove helpful:
In addition to these, AARP also has tools and info to help seniors obtain low cost transportation, and, as we mentioned before, so does AAA. You should also look at the websites for your insurance provider and your local public transit system to see if they have any tools that can be helpful in getting you from one place to another. Just because you're getting older doesn't mean you have to stop moving. With a little work and the right resources, you can find plenty of ways of getting around town cheaply, safely, and conveniently, no matter what your mobility is like. SummarySeniors maintaining their independence is crucial for healthy and active aging. A big part of independence is transportation. If you're unable to driver, consider using personal transportation whether it's a large service like ITNAmerica or your local para-transit service. For more tips on staying independent, read our page on Active Senior Living and our Home Care for Seniors pages. How do seniors get around without a car?County public transportation services for seniors
Most counties across the U.S. offer free or low-cost public transportation services designed for seniors who need door-to-door rides. The best way to find these programs is to call your county's Area Agency on Aging. They'll connect you with available local programs.
What transport services means to an elderly person?These are just some of the things that mobility and transport services for elderly people can help to facilitate: Attending social events, such as family gatherings or meetups in the community. Collecting shopping and visiting local services, such as a hairdresser.
Do Age UK help with transport?Age UK works alongside other community organisations to provide door-to-door transport for older people to help them to maintain their independence. Depending on where you live, we may be able to help you with transport. Some of these services may be impacted by the coronavirus. Contact your local Age UK for advice.
Why is transportation an issue for elderly?Older adults experience barriers to transportation. They may drive less frequently or not drive at all. They may lack access to a personal vehicle, and therefore, need to rely on family members and caregivers or public transportation services.
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