Be Creative Using
Transportation Services
by Lisa Schmidtke
I recently served on a Senior
Issues Task Force for the city of Eden Prairie whose purpose was
to provide the City council with an update of a 1996 report that
identified the impact of changing
demographics of the senior population. We highlighted two major issues
confronting
the city at this time and one of them was transportation.
This shouldn’t come as a big surprise. A 2001 legislative report
projected that
from 1990 to 2010, the number of disabled
Twin Cities area residents would rise anywhere from 31 percent to
48 percent. The report recommended adding 7%-20% more Metro Mobility
vans by 2010, which hasn’t happened yet. At the same time,
the Metropolitan Council, which runs the Metro Mobility service,
has slashe the number of certified riders by adding stricter qualifications.
It was also forced to raise fares 17% last
summer as part of an effort to cover a $60
million deficit for all Twin Cities mass transit. (Pioneer Press,
Feb. 2006)
On a national scale, two emerging programs are seeking to address
transportation issues in new ways. Kathy Freud founded the Independent
Transportation Network (ITN) which is funded by AARP, National Academy
of
Science, Federal Transit Administration
and private philanthropies interested in social entrepreneurship.
Her nonprofit
membership organization offers a unique, reasonably-priced transportation
model in six states, hopefully coming soon to the Twin Cities.
Another effort, the DriveWell Program, was developed by the National
Highway
Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the American
Society on Aging (ASA) to educate the public about the changes that
can affect the ability to drive as we age.
What does all of this mean to a mobility challenged person who just
needs to get to the doctor? It means we need to get creative. In
2003, Metro Transit buses became wheelchair accessible. In Eden Prairie
a Shopping Bus provides
transportation on Tuesdays from senior residences to major shopping
areas and a Senior Center Van is part of many cities’ transportation
program to bring seniors to
Senior Center sponsored activities. Care facility vans, available
to residents only, are
increasingly common. Jewish Family and Children’s Service will
take seniors to medical and other appointments.
PROP (People Reaching Out to Other People) provides free taxi transportation
to get seniors to medical appointments if they
lack other transportation.
DARTS (Dakota Area Resources and Transportation for Seniors) provides
door-through-door rides throughout Dakota
County for seniors and ADA-certified riders.
Have these resources’ phone numbers
handy and when you need a ride, just
start calling. I remember riding one
day with my mother, who has Multiple
Sclerosis, and watching her literally pick
up her leg and put it on the brake. I thought to myself, “This
is the end of her driving days.” But, with the help of a doctor’s
prescription, a van equipped with
hand controls and a rigid driving test, she was back on the road
(and much safer).
Accessible vans help people with disabilities continue to drive safely
and provide their assistants an easier way to
make transfers. To try one out, Wheelchair Getaways will rent them
by the hour. Mobility Sales also rents, sells new and
used wheelchair/handicap accessible
vans. Companies such as Complete
Mobility and Cummings Mobility Conversion
and Supply will customize your vehicle for wheelchair accessibility
or install removable
equipment to your car to fit your mobility
needs without losing the car’s resale value.
Research your options, analyze your
transportation needs and most importantly,
be safe.
Lisa Schmidtke is the President and
Founder of Housecalls Network. Their
website, www.housecalls-network.com,
contains a directory of resources that can
help the growing population of seniors,
disabled people and their caregivers live independently. Housecalls
Network also sells aids for daily lving and adaptive
clothing. Lisa can be reached by e-mail at
lisa@housecalls-network.com or
by phone at 952-221-0722. Housecalls Network
does not endorse any particular provider. They assume no responsibility
for transactions between the readers of this
article and listed organizations.
Resource Contact Information
Complete Mobility: 651-635-0655;
www.CompleteMobility.com
Cummings Mobility & Conversions:
1-800-NEWLIFT; www.cummingsmobility.com
ElderCircle: 1-800-327-1617 www.eldercircle.org/elder_circle_services.htm
Home Instead Senior Care:
1-888-484-5759 www.homeinstead.com
Metro Mobility: 651-602-1111; www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/
Mobility Sales: 866-803-2200;
www.mobilitysales.com
Professional Assistants Inc:
402-934-5852 www.professionalassistantsinc.com
Provenience Senior Concierge
Services: 651-341-6763 www.proveniencecare.com
Rollx Vans: 1-800-956-6668
www.rollxvans.com
Senior Community Services:
952-541-1019 www.seniorcommunity.org
Share Shuttle: 952-931-1380
Wheelchair Getaways: 1-800-642-2042
www.wheelchair-getaways.com
