GPS-Guided Transportation for the Elderly

CC Image courtesy of Garry Knight via Flickr

We live in an aging society. As the Greatest Generation passes on, the Baby Boomers are swelling the ranks of the elderly. In fact, the National Center on Senior Transportation anticipates that by 2020, one out of every six people will be over the age of 65. And medical advancements have paved the way for these seniors to live even longer lives than generations past; however, with age comes failing health and disabilities with increased need of care. Organizations, family members, and individuals themselves are realizing the value technology has in not only improving their lives but also in making them more fulfilling. One such technological advancement is global positioning systems. From GPS-enabled devices in the form of phones, bracelets, and even shoes to GPS-empowered programs such as Project Lifesaver and Comfort Zone, GPS is helping seniors and others unable to care for themselves stay safe. Now transportation companies for the elderly are looking to GPS to help them better manage the increasing demands for service.

An Overwhelming Need

Thousands of citizens in every city across the country are unable to provide transportation for themselves in order to get to things like basic healthcare appointments and social functions. Some have no car or are just not able to drive anymore. Caretakers are not always available to drive a loved one here and there due to their own responsibilities and obligations. Still others have no access to safe public transportation, such as city buses or trains, either because of the area they live in or just the physical difficulties they have. With stairs to climb and crowds of people to negotiate, the elderly and the disabled are just not able to get around like they need to and like they want to. The director of Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) says, “It is a silent need that a lot of individuals feel shame in sharing . . . because who wants to admit . . . that you have no means to travel?” Even for the able-bodied, it is sometimes difficult to ask for help. How much more for those who have lived through wars and economic setbacks through their own strength and independence but now have to rely on others for their basic way of life?

An Inspiring Solution

Society owes it to these brave wardens of the past to protect their independence. And various agencies, nonprofit organizations, and government offices are stepping up to make that happen by providing systems of transportation to help seniors and others in need of medical assistance live a normal life as much as possible. Providing transportation to medical appointments, the grocery store, the bank, the barber or hairdresser, and anywhere else the person may need to go, including social events, makes them feel alive and a part of society. But with an increase in the number of elderly and disabled, the demand on these transportation services is great. That’s where GPS technology can lend a helping hand. Places like Washington County, Pennsylvania, are tapping into the vast resources and applications of GPS to increase their efficiency and provide better service to those they care and provide for.

• The Program—Washington Rides is a public program that is 85% paid for by the Pennsylvania Lottery and subsidized by another 7.5% by the Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging, giving those needing it an affordable means of transportation. The program is designed primarily to help those over the age of 65 as well as those who are disabled or have medical conditions preventing them from driving. They provide door to door service and rides that are usually less than an hour. Drivers are not only trained on how to drive but also on how to assist their passengers, always being sensitive to their needs.

• The Plan—Drivers for the Washington Rides paratransit system now use tablet type computers installed with GPS software to get their passenger manifests each day. Once the addresses are geo-coded into the system, the GPS takes over to plan an efficient and organized route for picking up and dropping off customers.

• The Power—Senior citizens and those with disabilities now have a reliable means of getting from one place to another that gives them a sense of self-empowerment. Instead of being institutionalized, housebound, or dependent on someone else’s schedule, they can now get a ride that is convenient for them. They can reserve a ride the day before and are guaranteed safe, dependable transport within a 15-minute window of their reservation time Monday through Friday.

This is just one example of how GPS can help already over-extended transportation organizations reach and assist more people. By systematizing routes and creating databases of information, these agencies can focus on caring for the elderly and getting them where they need to be. And the elderly can focus on living their lives to the fullest, passing onto the next generation their wisdom and experiences.

GPS-Guided Transportation for the Elderly