Free rides for seniors
Transportation by volunteers through Senior Wheels program
By Ashley Rittenhouse - The Marietta Times
(article and photo used
with permission.)
It's hard for Marietta resident Mary Emge to imagine not being able to do something as simple as going to a hair appointment due to inability to drive.
That's why she signed up to serve as a volunteer driver for a new program being implemented by the O'Neill Center and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Washington County, which provides transportation for senior citizens who need it.
"One of these days I might need a service like this," said Emge, 64. "It sounded like a good thing to do to help people who want to do ordinary things and they're trapped in their home (because of inability to drive)."
Through the Washington County Senior Wheels program county residents 55 and older can be transported free of charge to the bank, medical appointments, grocery stores and other places.
Rides are provided by volunteers who are 55 and older. They use their own vehicles and they are reimbursed 55.5 cents per mile.
RSVP director Lisa Valentine said the program is being started in light of surveys that have been done both locally and nationally which show that many senior citizens face the issue of not being able to get to where they need to go due to a lack of transportation.
"The Area Agency on Aging did a survey and transportation was one of the things people said was lacking in this area," Valentine said. "Lack of transportation is a national crisis. The 2000 Census said 73 percent of people 65 or older lived in areas with limited transportation offerings and another survey said as many in one in three people with disabilities have inadequate access to transportation options."
Valentine noted that the program is being funded with a one-time $10,000 grant awarded by the Washington County Commissioners. The money comes from the Washington County Senior Levy, which voters renewed in the November election.
"That is not used for any salaries. It's all going into the program," Valentine said. "Everyone who comes to training gets a background check and that's
$35 off the top."
Volunteer drivers must complete a roughly four-hour training course at the O'Neill Center in which they learn about defensive driving, basic first-aid and how to recognize the signs of stroke and heart attack.
All vehicles that are going to be used to transport clients are inspected by officials with the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Troopers check to make sure things like brake lights, headlights and the horn are in good working order.
To participate drivers must have a valid drivers license, at least two years of driving experience, a reliable vehicle and a good driving record. They must also carry auto insurance which covers $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident.
During training drivers are also taught how to get people safely in and out of a vehicle, Valentine said.
"They have to be mobile to use the service," she said. "They can't have a wheelchair but they can have a walker or cane. They have to be able to get in and out of a vehicle with assistance."
Valentine said those who need a ride must call the O'Neill Center at 373-3914 at least two weeks before it is needed and they must fill out an intake form. Once it is determined that they qualify for a ride through the program a dispatcher pairs them with a driver from their area.
"We've got three volunteer dispatchers right now and we're looking for two," Valentine said.
She added that dispatchers are on hand from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Marietta resident Jayne Stehle, 66, is the lead dispatcher.
"I've been an RSVP volunteer several years and I was looking for something else to do and I wanted to do something with computers," she said. "Our main job is to be the go between between the clients and drivers."
While additional dispatchers are needed Valentine said more drivers are needed, too. A total of 10 people have been approved to be drivers so far.
They are from the Belpre, Newport, Marietta and Lowell areas.
Valentine said drivers are needed from the New Matamoras, Cutler and Barlow areas, but people from other areas of the county are also encouraged to volunteer.
"Because of the limited funding we have if somebody from New Matamoras wants a ride we have to have someone from New Matamoras willing to give them a ride," she said. "People can only get a ride twice a month because of the funding...but if someone has a doctor's appointment once a week we'll try to accommodate that."
While rides are free riders are encouraged to donate $5 per ride. Valentine said she's hopeful donations and grants she is currently in the process of applying for will fund the program when the $10,000 grant runs out.
"We've already gotten a $150 donation from someone who believes in the program," she said.
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