WHAT ARE THE CURRENT CONDITIONS FOR OLDER ADULTS?
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation is a critical issue for the majority of older adults.
The availability of adequate transportation impacts whether or not older
adults can meet their needs such as going to the doctor, going grocery
shopping or attending events at the senior center. The inability to
access transportation threatens the ability of older adults to maintain
their independence and meet their basic needs. Additionally, it increases
the likelihood that they will become isolated and inactive. Inadequate
transportation is also a problem for family members who must miss work
and rearrange schedules to accommodate the transportation needs of older
adult family members.
As individuals age, if they own a car and know how to drive, they tend
to drive less and limit the places they drive. They avoid peak driving
times and stay closer to home. The decline in the use of a personal
vehicle necessitates the reliance on other modes of transportation.
A study conducted for the Texas
Office of Community Transportation Services (OCTS) provides some
understanding of the level of need among older adults as they lose their
ability to transport themselves. The OCTS survey found that of those
surveyed:
- the majority do not use a car to go to the doctor or other medical
appointments;
- during the last year, 13% had gone without food one or more days
due to lack of transportation;
- 25% always rely on family or friends to provide transportation
for non-emergency needs; and
- most are unlikely to use fixed route services to meet their needs
(THHSC, 1999, Community).
Figure 15.
Number of Transportation Disadvantaged in Texas by Category - 1997
and 2000
Source: Gadbois, et. al., 1998
Older adults are one of the most transportation-disadvantaged populations.
The projected increase in the number of older adults is only going to
make this problem more prevalent as Figure 15 demonstrates.
According to the Community Transportation
Association of America, all older adults over the age of 65 are
considered transportation disadvantaged. Based on that definition, in
Travis County in 1997, some 50,000 individuals over age 65 were transportation
disadvantaged. Although this definition may be broad, it makes the point
that, in general, modes of transportation and transportation services
are designed for younger individuals. It can be assumed that Travis
County will experience a large increase in need for transportation services
based on the population projections for Texas. Not only is the need
expected to increase, but the geographic distribution of those needing
services will also change. Aging Baby Boomers are more likely to live
in suburbs, areas that are less likely to have adequate transportation
infrastructure.
There is limited information available on the transportation situation
of rural residents. However, it is generally true that rural residents
face even greater barriers than their urban neighbors do. They have
fewer transportation options than urban dwellers and must travel further
to access basic services.
In the focus group and surveys conducted as part of this assessment,
participants identified inadequate transportation as one of the top
three problems for older adults in Travis County.
RETURN
TO TOP
CURRENT
EFFORTS
In Austin/Travis County, there are eight transportation providers that
serve older adults. The two primary providers are Capital
Metro and Capital
Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS). Three government agencies,
the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, the Texas Department
of Human Services, and the Capital Area Agency on Aging provide transportation
or purchase it from a local provider. Four volunteer based organizations
also provide rides - American Cancer Society, Lakeway Service League,
Meals on Wheels and More and Volunteer Caregivers Association of Austin
(Caregivers). All of these providers require advance reservations and
some serve limited populations.
It is not possible to determine the level of service provided by all
agencies. Through contracts with the City of Austin and CARTS, in 1999
the Capital
Area Agency on Aging provided transportation to 1,239 individuals,
purchased 32,000 rides within the City limits and 7,400 rides in the
rural areas. In addition, caregivers provided rides to 1,500 people
in 1999 and provided 8,700 rides. (For more information see Appendix
A.)
Table 11.
Findings and Recommendations
| FINDINGS |
RECOMMENDATIONS |
- Lack of centralized transportation coordination. To secure
a ride, an individual may have to call several different transportation
providers.
|
- Centralized Coordination. Develop centralized transportation
coordination that would allow individuals to call one number
to reserve a ride.
|
- Escort Service. Many older adults need escorted rides to
help them enter and exit transportation vehicles and to reach
the final destination once leaving vehicle. This service is
not available with public transportation and some transportation
providers charge for attendants who are traveling with older
adults. Caregivers provide this service but cannot meet the
demand. As the population grows older the need for this service
will increase.
|
- Develop formal escort policies and systems. Current public
transportation providers should allow attendants or escorts
to ride free. Another possibility is for public transportation
providers to hire attendants to provide assistance to transportation
users. Attendants would help users safely enter and exit vehicle
and ensure that they arrive safely at their end destinations.
|
- Require Advance Reservations. Transportation services for
special populations require individuals to make advance reservations.
- Limited Availability. The current public system is not able
to meet the needs of the population - there are not enough vehicles
or drivers. This situation has resulted in a variety of social
service agencies developing individual transportation programs
to meet the needs of their clients. Limited availability causes
difficulties for individuals, such as cancelled doctor appointments.
- Limited Destinations. Transportation services for special
populations are only available for certain types of "essential"
trips such as doctor's appointments. Focus group participants
and survey respondents clearly indicated that transportation
is needed to travel to social activities, religious services,
the grocery store, or volunteer service opportunities.
- Long Wait and Travel Times. Public transportation often requires
riders to wait for long periods for transport to arrive and
then spend several hours traveling to and from destinations.
This is not only inconvenient, but for frail older adults and
individuals in wheel chairs, it may be beyond their physical
capacities.
- Design not friendly to older adults. Public transportation
often requires individuals to walk to a bus stop and wait without
shelter for the bus - many bus stops do not have seating or
protection from the elements.
- Limited Wheelchair Access. Few of the transportation providers
can accommodate individuals who use wheelchairs.
|
- Develop and implement a comprehensive transportation plan
to meet the needs of the population.
- Develop Tiered system. A tiered system would have different
transportation providers that are targeted to meet the needs
of certain groups of individuals. For example, it could be tiered
by destination or by level of ability/disability. Each transportation
provider would be responsible for one tier, i.e. individuals
who need to go to the doctor.
- Payment System. Implement a voucher system that would allow
qualifying individuals to receive vouchers redeemable with the
transportation provider based on choice and availability.
|
- Heavily Dependent upon Volunteers. Much of the current transportation
system is dependent upon volunteers to fill gaps in the public
transportation system.
|
- Strengthen Publicly Funded Transportation. Public transportation
providers need to develop better services for this population
rather than assuming that volunteers will do the job.
|
- Volunteers Not Covered by Good Samaritan Law. State law does
not protect volunteer transportation providers (individuals)
from being sued by clients.
|
- Lobby Texas Legislature to include volunteer drivers under
the Good Samaritan Law.
|
- Insufficient Data. More information is needed to understand
the true magnitude of the problem.
|
- Insufficient Data. More information is needed to understand
the true magnitude of the problem.
- Develop Uniform Data Requirements. Work with service providers
to collect the information necessary to develop the necessary
level of knowledge about the problem. For example, # of unduplicated
clients served, # of rides provided (by category), cost of providing
a unit of service. Conduct additional study of the needs of
rural residents.
|
