Should you or your elderly loved one stop driving? If so, how will you travel to the doctor and the grocery store and stay connected to the people and activities that you love? Here is a list of articles that will help you determine if it is time to arrange for an alternate mode of transportation for your loved one: If your loved one is no longer safe to drive, they will need options to keep them mobile and connected to the life they love. Here are options for you and your loved one to consider: If your elderly loved one is able to walk to the bus stop, teach them how to use the bus maps and check the schedules. Go with them on their first ride to someplace they visit often, like the library or a coffee shop. Make a day of it, so that they can familiarize themselves with the route and spend time with you in the process. Reduced fares are available to Charlottesville citizens, 65 and older. Karen Davis of JAUNT explains in the video below how you can retrieve a reduced-fare pass. http://youtu.be/YNVJfZ4Fd98 Or, you can click here to visit CAT’s Web page. JAUNT is a low-cost, scheduled service that provides “door to door” transportation for their passengers. They will arrive at the scheduled time outside, pick up their passenger – all of the drivers are helpful and considerate of the elderly and nearly all vehicles are wheelchair accessible, drive to anywhere in the city and drop their happy clients off. Many of Care is There’s clients have provided positive feedback about JAUNT, some claiming they would prefer it over accepting rides with friends. For information about JAUNT, call (434) 296-3184. For an overview of JAUNT services and for an an in-depth explanation on how to ride the Jaunt bus, watch the videos below. http://youtu.be/a9CNJcLS5pM http://youtu.be/8rAbz0Xk7Io Even if your loved one isn't at the stage where they need companion care for any length of time, you can still hire a companion agency to provide easy and accessible transportation for them. Many of the agencies on the list above will gladly accompany your loved one on appointments, shopping trips and other day-to-day activities. As Karen mentions in the first video above, private providers are viable options for senior transportation. These providers may not be trained specifically in transporting and caring for the elderly, so if your loved one has a chronic condition, mobility issues, vision or hearing issues, memory loss or another other illness, consider using a more specialized option. The list Karen provides in the video is as follows: Seniors can utilize local taxicab service for on-demand transportation to and from desired locations. This option is more convenient but also more expensive than public transportation. More and more seniors are trying out non-traditional cab services like Uber and Lyft. Many local home care agencies provide transportation for clients who are enrolled in their services. Such agencies may provide many related services as well: running errands, cooking meals, light housekeeping, bathing and dressing, and in-home medical care. Contact Care is There Geriatric Care Management for advice about the type of agency to hire. Most senior living communities offer group or individualized transportation to their residents. Older adults often consider moving to a senior living community when their ability to drive deteriorates. Contact Care is There Geriatric Care Management for advice about the type of community that would best suit your loved one’s needs, and for personal assistance in choosing and transitioning to such a community. Some adult day centers and PACE programs will pick up your loved one from their home and transport them to the program, or they can arrange transportation on your behalf. Contact Care is There Geriatric Care Management about adult day centers near you. Helping a friend or loved one with transportation is a great way to stay connected! Plan a weekly errand day together or confer in advance about good days to take a day off from work for doctor’s appointments. Friends attending the same social activity often appreciate the company and are happy to pick up your loved one on the way. Faith communities often have programs that help elderly people attend services, or fellow community members need only be asked to provide transportation as an act of kindness. Our geriatric care managers at Care is There accompany our clients to their appointments and handle logistics on their behalf. This keeps you from having to take time off work, and it keeps us connected and up to date with them! Learn more about our services here. If your loved one is struggling with transportation issues, we can:The Decision to Stop Driving
Transportation Options
Public Bus Transportation - Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT)
Door to Door Service – JAUNT
Companion Agencies
Private Providers
Taxicab
Home Care Agencies
Senior Living Communities
Adult Day Centers
Friends, Family, and Faith Communities
Geriatric Care Managers - Care is There (540.246.0211)
How Care is There can help:
Next Steps
Trying to arrange transportation for your elderly loved one in Charlottesville Virginia?
Contact Care is There Geriatric Care Management by calling 800-434-1633 or by emailing us at Info@CareisThere.com. We provide a free telephone consultation and will help in any way we can.
Related Articles
- How to Find Out if Your Elderly Parent is Safe to Drive in Virginia
- Transportation Options for Seniors in Charlottesville Virginia
- Senior Citizens and Driving: What To Do When Your Elderly Parent Needs to Stop Driving
- Senior Citizens and Driving: How Driving Skills are are Assessed for the Elderly
- Senior Citizens and Driving: Can My Loved One Improve Their Driving Skills and-or Regain their Driver’s License?
- Senior Citizens and Driving: How to Talk to Your Elderly Parents About Driving
- Senior Citizens and Driving: The Process of Reporting an Unsafe Elderly Driver
- Senior Citizens and Driving: Life After Driving
- Senior Citizens and Driving: Dementia – What if My Parent Forgets They Can’t Drive?
Related Videos
- Transportation for Senior Citizens in Charlottesville Virginia
- JAUNT Transportation Overview
- How to Ride the JAUNT Bus