Forums invite Hamilton County seniors to voice opinions about transportation

July 9, 2010 -- How do you get to where you need to go when you hang up the keys for the last time? For older adults in our region, there is no satisfactory answer. Yet, for many, transportation is a crucial factor affecting their independence and ability to remain in their own homes.

To help find some answers, Agenda 360, a regional action plan led by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, is partnering with Council on Aging, St. Paul Village and Sycamore Senior Center to present two public forums called Moving Forward: Seniors, Transportation & Independence. The purpose is to gather information for Agenda 360's transportation focus.

Hamilton County seniors, caregivers, family members, and any other interested individuals are invited to share their transportation opinions and concerns with community leaders, including elected officials and transit planners.

The Hamilton County forums will be held at two locations on July 26:

Sycamore Senior Center

• 9:30-11:30 am (Refreshments will be served)
• Sycamore Senior Center
  4455 Carver Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242
• RSVP: Call (513) 984-1234 to register (limited transportation service available)
• Guest Speaker: Representative Connie Pillich (D-Montgomery)

St. Paul Village

• 1:30-3:30 pm
• St. Paul Village
  5515 Madison Road, Cincinnati OH 45227
• RSVP: Call (513) 527-2394 to register

At both events:

• Council on Aging will present the results of the Senior Transportation Needs Assessment, the first step in its strategic plan to help address transportation needs, gaps and barriers. The assessment is unique among transportation studies because it is the first to focus on the experiences and opinions of older adults.
• ITNGreaterCincinnati will share information about a new transportation resource in our area.
• Participants will engage in facilitated, small group discussion. The goal is to offer an opportunity for seniors, caregivers, and community leaders to share their transportation opinions and concerns.
• Participants will receive information about transportation options in our region. 

The forum builds on the efforts of Council on Aging which completed a comprehensive Senior Transportation Needs Assessment. This study is the first of its kind in our region because it focuses on the experiences and opinions of older adults. Nearly 2,600 adults age 60 and older from five counties participated in surveys and focus groups.

The Needs Assessment was Council on Aging's first step in its strategic plan to address transportation needs, gaps and barriers. By administering programs with federal, state and local funds, COA is a significant transportation resource for seniors in southwestern Ohio. In 2009, Council on Aging programs provided nearly 260,000 trips for seniors to medical appointments, shopping, and recreation.

Still, these trips meet only a fraction of the need and much of the funding goes to disabled seniors who are enrolled in COA's home care programs. Beyond this group are thousands of other older adults who no longer drive but aren't disabled enough to qualify for special programs.

Key findings from Council on Aging's Senior Transportation Needs Assessment include:

• Thirty-nine percent of older adults reported they had quit or limited their driving in the last six months.
• Seniors most often identified employment and education as destinations they find hard to get to (90 percent). More than 80 percent also reported finding it hard to get to social service appointments, shopping, senior centers, and religious functions. Seventy-five percent reported difficulty getting to medical appointments, even though there are medical transportation services in our region.
• Forty percent of seniors said they lack knowledge of transportation resources.
• Nearly one-third reported they would end up missing their trip if their primary means of transportation became unavailable. In focus groups, older adults said family members often drive them, but they don't like being a burden.
• Seniors report negative perceptions of public transportation, including services for the disabled. They fear being stranded or being treated rudely by impatient drivers.

Comments included:
"I would like to see a regional collaboration in building light rail, sidewalks, bike paths and bus routes that are inter-connected. There are no sidewalks in my area so even if I wanted to walk to the store, it is treacherous. And there is no bus service available."

The needs assessment included recommendations in the areas of transportation planning, advocacy, services, and outreach. Council on Aging will focus on improving efficiency and capacity within its own transportation services and on continuing to advocate to ensure that older adults are represented in regional transportation planning, funding and design.

Information about transportation services in our region, including driver safety courses, is available on Council on Aging's Web site, www.help4seniors.org.

About Agenda 360
Agenda 360 is a regional action plan, led by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, intended to transform Cincinnati USA into a leading metropolitan region for talent, jobs and economic opportunity. The Alliance for Regional Stewardship named Agenda 360 a finalist for the 2009 Organizational Champion Award

About Council on Aging

Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio (COA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for older adults and their families.

Since 1974, COA has been designated by the state of Ohio as the Area Agency on Aging for Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren counties. COA plans, coordinates, funds and administers programs for an area that is home to more than 252,000 adults age 60 and older.

COA promotes choice, independence, dignity and well-being of older adults through a range of services that help them remain in their homes for as long as possible. One call to COA links people to the wide variety of agencies, information and programs that serve older adults.

For Answers on Aging:
Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio
175 Tri County Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45246
513-721-1025 Toll-free 1-800-252-0155
E-mail: info@help4seniors.org
Website: www.help4seniors.org

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