The first step to solving senior transportation issues is to find an affordable and reliable non-emergency medical transportation service. Stellar Transportation offers non-emergency medical transportation in Melbourne, FL and beyond. Local or long distance, we’ve got you covered. We specialize in elderly, wheelchair, bariatric, and stretcher patients.
Senior drivers don’t usually text and drive or drink and drive. They are also more likely to obey speed limits, avoid dark or dangerous roadways, and stay off the roads during a storm. Still, aside from teens, seniors are the highest risk group in regards to fatal car crashes. In fact, according to AAA, in 2009 over 58% of fatal crash crashes involved a driver that was over 65-years-old. Furthermore, in 2014, just short of 5,709 seniors were killed in traffic collisions, with an additional 221,000 injuries.
As we continue living longer it is very common for seniors to outlive their safe driving range, forcing them to live life without a license. Even though driving presents risks to the elderly and people out on the road, this is a devastating blow and a big loss of freedom that can be difficult to contend with. These struggles escalate as seniors deal with finding rides to places they need to go when just a few short months or years ago they would have gotten behind the wheel and driven themselves.
Helpful Transportation Solutions
#1. Hire Affordable Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
Find a local and affordable non-emergency medical transportation service that specializes in seniors and put them on your speed dial. This ensures your loved one never misses an important doctor appointment.
At Stellar Transportation, all of our drivers undergo senior sensitivity training in order to provide the best service possible. We offer door-through-door services and are fully equipped to safely transport wheelchair, stretcher, and bariatric patients. You can rest assured that we always use the latest safety equipment to keep our patients safe. Comfort is equally important, as is style. Hence why all of our vehicles are never more than a few years old and kept in top of the line condition with weekly cleanings and inspections.
Contact us today to get a free quote for local or long distance transportation!
#2. Schedule Doctor Appointments For The Same Day
Use one ride to complete two different appointments! If two or more of your doctors are located near one another or in the same building, you might as well schedule two appointments in one day if possible. This might help reduce transportation costs and can also improve efficiency, giving you more time to enjoy life outside of the doctor’s office.
#3. Coordinate With Family & Friends To Create A Plan
Seniors do not want to burden their family and friends with requests for rides so it’s important for family members to be proactive about it. Create a schedule in which everyone takes turns driving grandma or grandpa to the store, doctor appointments and so forth. By taking turns you don’t burden one person with more than they can handle. Instead, you give everyone a chance to hang out with their loved one once a month or so while providing rides as needed.
Issues Seniors Face After Losing Their Driver’s License
Research shows that seniors suffer numerous life changes after losing their driver’s license, such as:
-They miss more doctor appointments, which can lead to a reduction in health.
-They go out to eat less often.
-They go shopping less often.
-They attend less functions with friends.
All of these things put seniors at a much greater risk for isolation and depression.
What About Medicare?
Medicare only covers emergency medical trips, for instance if you call 911 and are escorted to the hospital by ambulance. Transportation to standard doctor appointments is covered by Medicaid, which covers younger populations. Interestingly though, Medicare, the coverage program offered for seniors, does not cover transportation to standard doctor appointments. Medicare only covers emergency transportation.
What If You Can’t Afford Transportation?
Public transportation, Uber and taxi cabs offer quick and affordable access to a ride, but they are not always suited to patients with special needs, such as patients in wheelchairs or with limited mobility. Needless to say, an Uber driver is not going to provide the same level of door-through-door service as a non-emergency medical transportation specialist—not even close!
There are several laws and services in place to help seniors obtain transportation if they do not have the means to pay for it themselves. For instance, the Older Americans Act (OAA) distributes funds to help support an Area Agency on Aging, a valuable resource when sourcing elderly transportation. Another federal law that might help is the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA. The ADA safeguards a basic level of transportation for a number of senior citizens. By contacting local programs for seniors you can find out if your loved one qualifies for transportation assistance.
The Leading Affordable Non-Emergency Medical Transportation in Melbourne
Stellar Transportation strives to provide leading transportation services to seniors without breaking the bank. In fact, our prices often beat out our competition by a longshot. Contact us today and we are more than happy to provide you with a free quote on local or long distance transportation.