5 alternative transportation options for older adults

1. Senior community living transportation services

CDC data shows that nearly 2.2 million people in the US live in community senior centers, including independent living communities and acute care facilities.

Another study found that only 4.5% of people living in residential care facilities were current drivers (regardless of whether they were healthy enough to drive). If you crunch the numbers, that’s still possibly over 2 million older adults in community centers who need organized and efficient transportation.

Thankfully, most of these senior living communities already have effective transportation services in place. Some centers provide scheduled shuttle services to essential locations like grocery stores, medical facilities, and social gatherings. Other places rely on local organizations to help with transportation. And, in some instances, these senior living communities offer private rides to and from various functions.

2. Public transit or paratransit services

Non-driving seniors in good health often rely on public transit to get around. Most cities offer seniors free or discounted rides to make public transportation more affordable.

While public transit is a good option for many older adults, there are potential drawbacks to its practicality. It can be challenging, for example, to locate bus stops, walk long distances to stations, and wait for long periods of time or in extreme temperatures for transportation to arrive. Public transportation also has rigid schedules and specific routes, making door-to-door service at a specific time impossible.

Paratransit services are available in some places for individuals with mobility challenges who can’t use traditional public transportation options independently. Paratransit vehicles include accessibility features and assistance from trained drivers, and most allow service animals to accompany passengers. The added benefit of paratransit is that it offers flexible schedules and door-to-door services.

3. Non-emergency medical transportation

When an older adult who doesn’t drive has a non-emergency medical appointment—like a healthcare consultation, a treatment, or another medical appointment—they can look for rides from non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services. Like paratransit vehicles, NEMT services also offer door-to-door rides, advanced scheduling, and wheelchair-accessible options.

If you’re not sure where to start with choosing a service, your provider may provide rides through Uber Health or you can use Uber Call-to-Ride. With Uber Health, healthcare facilities can provide patients with door-to-door transportation for routine medical visits, dialysis appointments, physical therapy sessions, and other non-emergency healthcare needs.

When you remove the logistics of travel from the equation for older adults who need assistance with transportation, you help increase the chances that they’ll make it to their appointments without issues.

4. Volunteer driver programs

Not every municipality has outstanding public transportation—especially in the rural US. But do you know what they do have? Community.

Where public transportation or paratransit services may be lacking, communities can step up to the plate and shine. One way to help is by organizing a volunteer driver program that recruits community members to provide transportation assistance to older adults.

Drive a Senior Northwest in Austin, Texas, is a great example of a volunteer organization making this option work. Licensed volunteers in the Austin area can sign up to drive older adults to doctor appointments and grocery stores and help them run errands. And the people who need rides can call the organization’s office and get put on the passenger roster.

This volunteer service not only helps seniors with access to rides but also allows them to participate in social activities, combat isolation, and nurture meaningful relationships.

5. Assistive transportation devices

When we think of transportation, it’s common to first think of cars, buses, or trains. But there are several other possible ways to get around—some of which are more convenient and cost-effective than driving a car or taking public transportation.

Seniors in good health can use personal electric mobility devices, such as electric scooters, bicycles, or motorized wheelchairs. Sometimes, in the right area, these transportation devices can even be more efficient than cars.