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.
|
