Transportation Resources for Seniors

Getting from here to there, such as from home to a medical appointment or from home to a friend's house, is an important part of any senior's wellness plan. While many older adults still drive safely — about 20% of licensed drivers are older than 65¹ — other older adults choose to stop driving due to safety concerns, mobility challenges, neurological conditions, or cognitive decline. When seniors stop driving, they become increasingly dependent on others to maintain their social gatherings, medical appointments, and daily life outside the home.

You have options if you're coordinating transportation services for your loved one or a senior looking to find resources that help you stay connected to the community. While each city or area is unique, here are some starting points that can help you find the support you need for your situation.

Senior Transportation Services in Your City

Transportation is often a service provided through the senior support division of a city, town, or village. This service can include buses or cars that seniors can reserve through a quick phone call, ensuring they will have a ride to where they need to go. In most cases, you just need to supply the date and time of your request, the destination, and if you need return services. Depending on your location, these services might have a moderate cost.

Public Transportation at a Discount

Robust public transportation via a bus, train, or subway system could be the easiest and most familiar solution for seniors living in neighborhoods to get around. Ensure you aren't overpaying; take a look at the city's public transit authority to determine if there are free or reduced rides for older adults.

Rideshare Services

Looking for a ride to the diner to meet up with friends? Or to the clinic for a follow-up physical therapy appointment? There's an app for that, literally. Rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft, are easy to schedule, and both feature an option to call for a ride instead of requesting it through the app. This makes it even more convenient for an older adult who might not be as tech-savvy.

Traditional Uber and Lyft services will work for most older adults. However, both services allow someone else, such as a family member or caregiver, to request a ride on behalf of the older adult. Both apps also provide the option of sharing ride details with others, so the caregiver or family member can check on the status of the ride for an extra layer of safety.

Home Care Services

Many non-medical home care agencies offer transportation as one of their services in the community. Contact agencies near you to determine the cost, if there are hourly minimums associated with requests, and how caregivers are insured and licensed. A perk of using home care services for transportation is that the caregiver often escorts the senior to their destination, ensuring they are safe while at the store, doctor's office, or other destination.

Friends and Neighbors

Turning to friends and neighbors for a ride can often be a cost-effective way for seniors to get to where they need to go, with the bonus of socialization on the way. It can sometimes feel intimidating to ask a friend or trusted neighbor for a ride, but putting yourself out there can be worth it.

Delivery Services

Sometimes, it isn't necessary or realistic for a senior to schedule transportation just to run a few errands. Thanks to certain delivery services, everyday items can be sent directly to the senior's home. From take-out to groceries to medications, almost anything an older adult needs is a few clicks away.

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels, for example, is a free resource that brings nutritious, home-cooked meals to seniors living in the community. Depending on the town, meals might be delivered three to five days per week by a helpful and friendly volunteer who also offers a quick wellness check while they are dropping off the meal. Find the program closest to you through the Meals on Wheels website or your town's senior services department.

Grocery delivery

Grocery delivery is another useful service that older adults can enjoy, with the added benefit that family members can place an order from miles away if the older adult finds keeping up with a grocery list too overwhelming. Here are a few options:

• Amazon Fresh, where most deliveries are free with a Prime account
• Walmart delivery, which includes free delivery for Walmart Plus members if the order is more than $35
• Instacart, where customers can choose from various stores based on their location, making it a better option for someone who prefers to support their local grocery store chain

Medication delivery

Medication delivery services may be available, allowing you to skip the trip to the pharmacy for medication refills by having them delivered instead. Check with your loved one's preferred pharmacy to see if they have a delivery option or choose to use services like:

• DoorDash, which offers medicine delivery for over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements
• Express Scripts, a mail-order option that will mail medications to the home; this is especially helpful for long-term medications, but it might require that they become your primary pharmacy

Driving provides a sense of independence and empowerment for older adults. Without the ability to drive safely, seniors can slowly become isolated from their community. However, with the right support and resources in place, older adults can still get from here to there safely and get items delivered to their doorstep as needed.

Sources

1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, www.nhtsa.gov/book/countermeasures-that-work/older-drivers(accessed November 2024).