Transportation

Transportation A lack of transportation is detrimental to many aspects of quality of life for older adults, often denying them the ability to attend activities in their community, access their medical appointments, or run errands for basic necessities such as food. Ultimately a lack of transportation can perpetuate social isolation and become detrimental to health and wellness. The needs assessment found 79% of informants found lack of transportation as a barrier keeping older adults from accessing health care and overall enjoying quality of life.

Highlights of Our Impact 

Mechanicsville Churches Emergency Functions, Mechanicsville, Va. 

Mechanicsville Churches Emergency Functions (MCEF) began in November 1976 to help three churches combine their efforts to help families during the holiday season.

MCEF Senior Rides, a volunteer driver program that provides rides for rural seniors who can no longer drive, received $7,500 in 2019. Providing more than 100 rides per month, it has become necessary to use a paid transportation provider while additional volunteers are recruited. The goal in 2019 is to expand the ride program to 130 seniors, especially those needing dialysis or regular therapy.

Piedmont Senior Resources, Farmville, Va. 

Piedmont Senior Resources (PSR) was formed in 1973 to serve seniors in the Piedmont Area of Virginia. Among its many programs, PSR provides both home delivered and congregate meals, health education, homemaker service, legal aid, a farmers’ market, insurance counseling, referral programs, home repairs, care coordination and hospital readmission prevention.

PSR was awarded $15,000 to start a non-emergency medical transportation division in order to provide reliable, safe, accessible, and affordable transportation for seniors to reach their medical appointments. Using a designated wheelchair accessible van, PSR will transport seniors to their medical appointments within a 75 mile range.

Impact in Action

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