Finding ways to get around can be challenging at the best of times.
Our modern society is so strongly focused on cars – yet there are many people out there that simply cannot drive or do not have a car.
This is a major issue for the elderly as they often have many medical appointments that they need to keep.
Yet, as people age, their ability to drive themselves decreases and sooner or later, most elderly have to rely on other forms of transportation.
This loss of independence can be devastating, but finding reliable alternatives can offer people some sense of control over their own lives.
While elderly transport services do exist, they are often difficult to find and have different eligibility requirements.
For caregivers, transportation can be a major issue.
Often, caregivers choose to give their elderly relatives rides themselves, but this isn’t always an option.
Yet, finding alternative options for transportation can be challenging – especially for ethnic minority and immigrant seniors who can face additional challenges in finding and using transportation.
Long gone are the days of sincere, society-wide respect for seniors. More seniors are reporting age-based discrimination, or ageism, and its negative impacts on their lives.
This article will focus on some of the key challenges that people face in finding and using transportation and what solutions are out there to help with transportation for elderly and their caregivers.
Poverty is a Transportation Barrier
When you’re looking for transportation, poverty can be a major issue.
A lack of disposable income makes it much less likely that there will be access to a reliable car and less likely that the elderly person or the caregiver will have a driver’s license.
Poor neighborhoods are also more likely to be dangerous, meaning that it will be less safe for the elderly to walk and take public transportation or use other elderly transport services if a ride isn’t available.
Elderly ethnic minority and immigrant are more likely to be victims of crime, unsafe drivers, along with unsafe environmental factors including pothole and cracks in sidewalks and streets.
Additionally, being of low income limits the use of some common transport services, such as taxis, as the cost involved is simply too high.
Ethnic immigrant and immigrant elderly are particularly vulnerable to socioeconomic characteristics that make transportation more difficult.
These include limited ability to speak English, chronic health conditions, living alone and the long-term impacts of isolation.
Furthermore, elderly who are deteriorating physically or mentally may be unable to use many forms of transportation on their own, meaning that the caregiver has to travel with them.
This can place additional challenges on the caregiver.
Ethnic Differences in Transportation
The National Household Travel Survey concluded that ethnic minority seniors living in urban areas have far lower rates of mobility compared to the general population.
We know that the African American and Hispanic elderly differ substantially from non-Hispanic Whites, frequently living in overcrowded or isolated living arrangements, experience higher disability rates, less education, more acute health conditions, and accrue less income.
Ethnic minority and immigrant elderly are more likely to be poor than non-Hispanic whites.
Elderly African Americans make up 21%, or 630,000 of the more than three million elderly living below the poverty line in the US. They only account for 9% of the total adult population.
African Americans are also more likely than whites to stop driving as they grow older.
Lack of Transportation is Unhealthy
Not having access to safe, affordable transportation has been proven to be detrimental to the health of the elderly.
Lack of transportation can be a barrier to receiving necessary mental and physical health services.
Elderly with transportation limitations will be less likely to participate in nutritional and exercise programs and other programs designed to maintain health.
They are also less likely to be social regularly with their family and friends, a key need for all healthy people.
On the other hand, when the elderly do have access to safe, affordable transportation, they are more likely to participate in programs promoting health, and take advantage of mental and physical health services.
They are also more likely to be social regularly, enhancing mental and emotional health.
Those with access to safe, affordable transportation are also less likely to require in-home care, a frequently unaffordable reality for ethnic minority and immigrant families.
A study of elderly African Americans in Detroit found that they were far more likely to need in-home care without transportation being provided by a friend or relative with a car.
The Government Offers Some Solutions
For some elderly, their best options are going to come from government programs and the government does support a number of elderly transport services.
Medicaid, for example, will cover medical transportation, including non-emergency trips to the doctor.
Make sure to research your state’s particular policies – individual states have discretion as to who is eligible.
Medicare will cover emergency trips to the hospital, but again, do your research because there are some restrictions and coverage is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Some insurance companies are considering making transportation an insurable cost, so carefully review the health insurance policies available to you.
Some states and cities also offer discount public transportation passes for the elderly.
The 1965 Older American Act, created the Administration on Aging (AoA), which has developed the “Aging Services Network.” Included in their services are: caregiver support, transportation, congregate and home-delivered meals, and homemaker services. These services are funded by grants to the service provider from the AoA for free to all recipients.
21st Century Transportation Options
The technology revolution has also provided some solutions for elderly care that potentially helpful. Driver services like Uber and Lyft are new ways to get around.
They work like a traditional taxi service, except you can order the ride straight from your smartphone. It will tell you exactly who your driver is, how much it will cost, how long it will take to be picked up, and how long it will take to get to your destination.
Upsides to these services are the safety – everything is tracked by both companies through GPS tracking on your phone and the driver’s phone.
They’re also extremely convenient, especially for an immediate ride. The downside is that for low-income people rides from these kinds services can add up to be expensive if taken regularly.
They’re also not available everywhere yet. You need to be in a major metropolitan area, but they are expanding rapidly. Maybe the caretaker in your family would even want to drive for them. Both services are rapidly expanding and looking for drivers.
Another set of options are car sharing resources if your relative is able to drive, but can’t afford their own vehicle.
Programs like City Car Share and Zip Car are amazing services where you pay a monthly or annual fee, and then arrange to pick up a car near your home, usually at a gas station or another similarly public location, borrow it for a few hours and then return it. Like driver services, these programs are limited geographically, but expanding rapidly.
Another option for delivered items, like groceries, is to use courier services like Postmates. Postmates couriers, either on bike, car, or scooter, will pick up literally anything that can be bought in your neighborhood and deliver it to you.
It’s not cheap, but if your elderly relative needs groceries, clothing, or any item purchased and delivered for them, this is the most convenient option. Again, they’re only in a few major cities, but are rapidly expanding.
Finding Elderly Transportation Options in Your Area
Even if you’re not tech savvy, there are traditional transportation options for seniors but be warned, different areas have varying quality of services and different services overall.
This means that you will have to spend time to look up what is available and what your family member is eligible for.
One example of this is Montgomery Country, Maryland.
This is an example of community offering a broad range of services.
Some of these services are listed below, and there are also other services available.
- Mobility/Paratransit: The first option available to residents is mobility/paratransit services, which provide curb-curb-service, costs $1.85, has a schedule and routes similar to regular metro lines, and can be reserved by telephone. Riders must fill out an application online.
- Reduced Fare: Montgomery offers a Reduced Fare card program, offering significant discounts on MTA one-way, day and monthly passes. Elgible riders must show a government-issued photo ID
- MTA Taxi Access Service: MTA Taxi Access allows riders to call for a ride, which will be $3, up to $20. The rider then pays anything over the $20. The trick: Rider must be a MTA-certified Mobility Customer.
- Local Transportation: This is a list of local transportation services available in the area.
Another example of this is Detroit Michigan.
- iTNMetroDetroit: This service offered transportation to seniors and visually impaired people living within its service limits. Availability is 24/7. A yearly membership fee is required to join and there are fees for individual rides. However, payment is made from an account with the company, meaning that no cash changes hands.
- MyRide2: A site that offers connections with a wide range of transport providers, including details about the individual services, their costs, eligibility requirements and how to book. The site also allows users to book on MyRide2, where agents from the site then use the information to book transportation with relevant providers.
- SmartBus: A door-to-door transportation service that offers reduced fares for people over 65 years of age and those with disabilities.
While the transportation challenges for seniors are always changing, so are the solutions provided by the government, the fast-paced world of technology, and traditional transportation services.
Research, use the tools and services available, and don’t be afraid to try new solutions to old problems.
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