When it comes time for an older individual to give up driving for safety reasons, it is important to continue to support them in getting out of the house and living a flourishing life. Not all families have the physical ability, time, or resources to transport their aging loved one around town to doctor’s appointments and social occasions.
This is where senior citizen transportation can help. Choosing the right door-to-door transportation for a senior family member requires careful consideration; it is essential to trust the team responsible for overseeing your loved one’s safety.
Here are some practical tips for arranging reliable and safe door-to-door transportation services for senior family members, including how to evaluate accessibility, comfort, and support and the criteria by which to choose a service provider.
Finding the Right Senior Citizen Transportation Option
Senior transportation providers come in many forms, and the right one for your family will depend on the aging individual’s level of ability, both physical and cognitive.
Some people will require more assistance than others. In general, the three things families should consider when determining which type of transportation is a good fit for their loved one are accessibility, comfort, and support.
Accessibility
Aging individuals often have additional needs that should be addressed when choosing a transportation service. Is the vehicle accessible? This goes not just for wheelchairs, which should be loaded using approved ramps and strapped in securely, but also for other mobility aids.
Longer seatbelts, rails, hand straps, and other accessibility tools should be available to assist those who need them. At the very least, the transportation provider should have a fleet of vehicles in which these options are available when needed if they are not present in all vehicles.
Comfort
Senior transportation should be comfortable — not just because that is in the best interest of anyone riding in a vehicle but because comfort can lead to safety. Forcing an older person to use uncomfortable seats or seatbelts can result in long-term negative effects on their body.
Leaning forward in a poorly adjusted seat can cause back and neck pain or strain, which may require considerable recovery time. A good transportation service will use extra tools to improve comfort, such as additional cushioning, footrests, or padding.
Support
Most senior citizens require some level of assistance during the transportation journey. The best transportation options will not leave them to navigate the entire process alone.
Instead, they will offer assistance, both getting in and out of the vehicle and also at the destination. Some will even sit and wait for the individual until their business is concluded to be sure the person returns home safely.
Choosing a Service Provider
Selecting a transportation service should hinge largely on the elements noted above. Once families have narrowed down their options to providers who seem to fulfill these criteria, making a decision from there comes down to other factors, including:
- How quickly can a transportation provider be scheduled? Same-day?
- Does the transportation provider offer consistent pickup times, or do they require reservations?
- Are the drivers operating the vehicles trained to assist older individuals?
- Does the transportation service operate on holidays?
- Do the service’s vehicles come equipped with accessibility features, and if so, are they the ones needed by your loved one?
- Does the transportation service stay to wait for your loved one to make sure they safely return to the vehicle after their appointment or commitment?
Educating Elderly Individuals
Before an aging individual can establish their new routine with a transportation service, it is important to educate them on the process. Often, this involves teaching them how to use an app to hail the vehicle and stay in contact with the driver.
In some instances, such as volunteer transportation services, the provider may not have an app; this can mean that elders should learn how to check, write, and respond to emails or text messages. If your family member uses a TTS service, check to make sure that the transportation provider can accept these types of calls. Otherwise, your loved one may not receive a response.
Learn More About Senior Citizen Transportation in Your Community
Senior transportation can be the gateway through which an aging individual can continue to remain active and engaged in their community. The benefits to both mental and physical health are significant, and families can reduce the chances of burnout by enlisting the help of such a service.
Contact us to discover how the Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia is making a difference in communities like Oakton, Vienna, Dunn Loring-Merrifield, Great Falls, Herndon, and Reston. If you’re outside these areas but have questions, give us a call, and we’ll guide you to the Shepherd’s Center nearest to you!
December 3, 2024, we ask you to please keep the Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia in mind. As a non-profit we rely solely upon the support of community partners, grants and donations. To put your generosity into perspective, remember this, our funds go to enriching the lives of older adults in the communities we serve.