Getting to the Doctor Without a Car in Rural America

Although access to transportation for older adults in rural areas can make the difference between good care and declining health, all too often such services are unavailable, reports Next Avenue . Luckily, organizations throughout the U.S. are stepping up to provide this service. "While rural areas face numerous obstacles in providing transportation that meets the health needs of older adults, many innovative programs have been initiated that help address these challenges," notes Carol Wright Kenderdine with the Federal Transit Administration-funded National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC). In 2017, the NADTC awarded six grants of up to $50,000 each to "increase accessible transportation options for older adults and people with disabilities" who do not live in retirement communities. "Many rural transit providers require a minimum of 24 hours reservation in advance," Wright Kenderdine says. "It's very seldom in a rural area that you have spontaneous transportation. It's tough to schedule, and you have to have multiple buses available. In some small communities, they only have one or two buses running." Some programs provide travel training programs, including an Idaho initiative where volunteer community members ride buses for free and wear identifiable apparel, looking out for fellow passengers who may need help understanding how to navigate the system. Other programs leverage local wellness fairs or county fairs for travel training events.