The need for
transportation options for seniors is urgent. While policy
makers and professionals know instinctively that options are
important, their level of importance was recognized by the delegates
at the 2005 White Conference on Aging who indicated (through their
vote) that senior transportation options is the third most
important agenda in aging.
Many older adults
will arrive at a stage in life where it will be necessary to “give
up their keys.” In fact, research indicates that there is a gap
between what is known as driving expectancy and life
expectancy (11 years for men and 6 years for women). If that gap
isn’t filled by a transportation option (other than driving the car)
a senior may not be able to get to life’s essentials and quality of
life activities.
There are a
multitude of community based transportation options out there
(public transit, ADA paratransit, general
paratransit, taxi programs, private transportation
services, and specialized transportation services, such as those
organized by hospitals, health facilities and social service
groups). Sadly, the same limitations that make it impossible for
seniors to drive frequently make it difficult or impossible for them
to access many of the traditional options that are available to
them. Why? One reason is that they aren’t senior friendly.
The
transportation research, demonstration, evaluation, and
technical assistance activities that are undertaken by the
Beverly Foundation address the “senior friendliness” of
transportation options, the methods that communities can use
to expand the availability of senior friendly options, and
the ways that volunteer drivers can contribute to senior
mobility and transportation in their community. The
Foundation’s annual STAR Search and STAR Awards
program is the Foundation’s primary method of identifying,
documenting and celebrating the countless community-based
transportation programs called
STPs (Supplemental
Transportation Programs for seniors).
STPs
are community based and tend to reflect “the culture of the community”. Thus they do
not reflect a “one best way " approach.
Some
have no budgeted expenses while others have million dollar budgets.
Some
have a large staff while others operate solely with volunteer
support.
Some
provide service in urban areas, others in rural areas, or a mix of
areas.
Some
provide transportation just for seniors, others serve a more varied
clientele.
Some
have paid drivers, others use volunteer drivers, and still others
have both.
Some
reimburse volunteer drivers for mileage, others do not.
Some
provide rides for specific needs such as medical, others for any
purpose.
Some
provide escorts, others do not.
Some
transport single riders, others offer only ride-sharing.
Some
use passenger vehicles only, others use a mixed fleet of vehicles.
Some provide thousands
of rides each year, others provide hundreds.
Some pay close
attention to risk management issues, others do not.
Some
require no rider fees but accept donations, others are fee-based,
receive tax support, and/or grant funding.
STPs models include the integration
of a senior transportation service within a larger transportation
system, that is part of a menu of services, that is organized as a
brokerage or modified brokerage, or that is a stand-alone program
sponsored by a community-based organization. Sponsors of senior
transportation programs include public and paratransit services,
social service agencies, area agencies on aging, senior centers,
service organizations, community groups, churches and interfaith
groups, volunteer organizations, and many other community-based
organizations. Many are the personification of civic engagement
in that they engage volunteer drivers to provide
transportation.
Please visit the Foundation’s
Resource
Store and
TurnKey
Kit for a broad selection of resources available on
the Website. These include information about subjects such as:
-
The trauma of giving up the
keys
-
The 5 A’s of Senior Friendly
Transportation as a standard for transportation service
delivery for older adults.
-
The concept and practice of
STPs as a key transportation option for seniors
-
Innovations for Seniors in
Rural Transportation Services
-
Risk Management in volunteer driver programs
-
Planning, implementation and
evaluation of volunteer driver programs
-
Volunteer Friends,
a low cost, low maintenance approach to providing transportation
for seniors.
-
Focus Group Research
on giving up the keys and volunteer drivers
To access this and other resources
on senior mobility and transportation, click on any link on the
right hand side of this page.
