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Ride Program a Ticket to Freedom for Seniors
By Sharon A. Heilbrunn, San Diego Union-Tribune
October 23, 2008
When John Scott, 70, had open-heart surgery three years ago and spent several months in the hospital, he figured it was time to give up his driver's license.
But complications led to dialysis treatments, and the Rancho Bernardo resident suddenly needed a ride to Escondido twice a week. So he signed up for Rides & Smiles, a transportation program that pairs seniors with volunteer drivers.
“It's been fantastic,” Scott said.
Since the program revved up in North County in 2004, more than 15,000 rides have been given, said Marilyn Greenblatt, program coordinator. Because of its popularity, Rides & Smiles – part of the Jewish Family Services' “On The Go” program, which operates a number of transportation options for older adults – recently branched out to University City, Clairemont and La Jolla.
The rides help seniors feel more independent and connected to the community, said Katey Pianko, program coordinator for the San Diego area.
“There is a huge demand for seniors and a lack of adequate transportation,” Pianko added. “It has a direct impact on people's lives. Seniors become active members in the community, where once they were isolated, and limited.”
Most of the rides are to medical appointments, but other seniors use the service for daily errands, such as a trip to the grocery store or hair salon. While there is no charge for rides, donations are suggested based on mileage.
“We send out a monthly donation form,” Greenblatt said, “but if someone is unable to donate, no one is refused a ride.”
Every Tuesday, Gene Kujawski, 78, hops in his Honda hybrid and picks up Philip LaPlaca, 90. LaPlaca, who has vision problems, used to have trouble catching the morning bus.
“It was quite a problem,” LaPlaca said. “Someone told me about Rides & Smiles and I couldn't believe it.”
Their 15-minute drive is full of quips – “Are your girlfriends here?” Kujawski jokes when they get to their destination – and banter between the native New Yorkers.
“Because we can't drive, we've lost our independence,” LaPlaca said. “This lets us get out and socialize.”
Volunteers are reimbursed for mileage and provided with secondary auto insurance. They use a Web-based system to schedule rides based on their own availability. There is no quota to fill or hourly target to reach.
“It allows them a tremendous amount of freedom,” Pianko said. “They aren't locked into anything.”
Wayne Bradbury, 63, signed up as a driver about eight months ago. He logged more than 1,400 volunteer hours as of last month.
“I was looking for something to get me out of the house and get me away from the TV set,” the retired police detective said. “It's kind of a full-time thing now.”
He drives a lot of regulars, such as Scott.
“We have great conversations together,” Scott said. “We talk about personal things, and also general news, like the stock market. The drivers are all great people.”
For Bradbury, the experience is rewarding.
“The riders all have a different story,” he said. “And they are so thankful that there is someone who can give them a ride.”
A similar service – Rides4Neighbors – is available in East County. The La Mesa program is expanding to neighboring communities in the next few months, said Judy Stern, La Mesa's human services manager.
“The growth has been rapid,” she said. “We've been increasing the number of rides we provide each month as well as the number of volunteer drivers.”
Seniors have limited options when it comes to transportation, Stern said. Most programs have been cut in recent years because of changes in state funding, including Dial-A-Ride, which operated for decades under the Metropolitan Transit Development Board.
“La Mesa has one of the highest percentages of older adults and disabled in the county,” she added. “This service helps keep them integrated within the community.”
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