Transportation
Transportation ranks with Social Security and Medicare as a top issue of concern for older adults both locally and nationally. Whether it`s a trip to a local senior center for a meal and companionship, or a check-up at the doctor`s office, demand for transportation is high - and growing - among local seniors.
Council On Aging works to ensure that seniors who need help with transportation can get it through programs such as Title III, PASSPORT, and the Elderly Services Program.
Council on Aging Transportation
The need for effective, economical, and reliable transportation options becomes readily apparent when we look at how the need has grown over the last few years. COA is proud of the support that we have been able to provide through the programs and services we administer. In 2011, COA provided more than 280,000 transportation trips for medical and social service appointments, shopping, recreation and the like.
As the chart below illustrates, the number of people requesting and using transportation services available through COA`s programs has consistently increased over the last several years. This trend is unlikely to change and the need is expected to increase as the baby boomer population continues to age.
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COA currently contracts with 30 organizations to provide transportation services through various programs. There are currently 6 independent programs administered by COA which have transportation as a service option.
| Program |
Type of Transportation Service
|
| |
Medical |
Non-Medical
|
Butler County Elderly Services Program
|
X
|
X
|
Clinton County Elderly Services Program
|
X |
|
Hamilton County Elderly Services Program
|
X
|
X
|
Warren County Elderly Services Program
|
X
|
|
PASSPORT
|
X
|
X
|
Title III
|
X
|
X
|
For seniors who are unable to safely transport themselves and have limited options and support, Medical Transportation Service can help them get to a variety of medical appointments to maintain or improve their health. The appointments can include medical offices, physical/occupational/mental therapy services, and even dental services.
Non-Medical Transportation provides assistance for seniors to destinations that are not medically related.
- The non-medical transportation service provided through Title III is used to provide trips to the grocery store, shopping, meals and access to community resources such as senior centers and adult day services.
- In the Butler and Hamilton County Elderly Services Programs, non-medical transportation is available to meet the quality of life needs of clients. This may include trips to the beauty parlor, religious activities, or to visit a spouse in nursing home or hospital. Due to funding limits, non-medical transportation service is not available in the Clinton and Warren County Elderly Services Programs.
- Non-Medical Transportation provided through PASSPORT includes trips to apply for benefits or pay bills, to government offices, senior centers, to hospitals and nursing homes to visit relatives, and occasionally for grocery shopping. PASSPORT clients are limited to two round trips per month.
Click on the links below to learn more about our programs that include transportation as a service to our clients:
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Transportation Advocacy
COA is a strong advocate at the local, state and federal level for seniors` transportation needs. Recently, we have advocated against changes to federal regulations which would have severely cut Medicaid transportation to medical appointments for our neediest seniors. As part of the review process for the Ohio Administrative Code, we have provided commentary and recommendations to the Ohio Department of Aging and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services regarding transportation services.
Locally, COA serves as the voice for seniors on the Community Advisory Council for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transportation Authority (SORTA).
Additionally, in 2008 we conducted a Senior Transportation Needs Assessment. The assessment included focus groups and surveys that asked adults age 60 and older to share their opinion on the transportation needs of older adults in our region. More than 2,500 older adults from Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren counties participated.
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 2011, Council on Aging programs provided more than 281,000 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.
Click here to read a full report about the Senior Transportation Needs Assessment. A summary report is also available.
Other Local Transportation Options
A comprehensive listing of transportation options for older adults is available in the Help4Seniors Resource Directory. Click here.
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