Access: Senior Transportation has arrived

In time for the new year, the Jewish Alliance’s new taxi transportation service is now up and running. Officially called Access: Senior Transportation, the service is highly subsidized through the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

It is intended for financially vulnerable Jewish individuals living in Rhode Island who are either 65 years of age and older or have an ADA-recognized disability. The goal of the service is to increase mobility among individuals who are at risk of isolation due to the lack of accessible transportation options. It has as already completed more than a dozen successful rides in its pilot phase. Access: Senior Transportation is one more service from the Living on the Edge initiative that helps provide a safety net, promote self-sufficiency and increase access to Jewish life in greater Rhode Island.

“We get calls about a variety of issues – healthcare services, food insecurity, vocational guidance and eldercare,” said Wendy Joering, Alliance director of member and concierge services. “but time and again, many seniors have reached out to us looking for rides.”

“Since the information and referral website AccessJewishRI.org launched in August, people have gone online to search for information. It has a comprehensive listing of services that enable individuals to seek resources they need,” said Kara Marziali, director of communications. “And we suspected that transportation would be one of those services that folks in our community would seek out. For seniors who are computer savvy, information about Access: Senior Transportation is available to download from the AccessJewishRI.org website.”

This transportation service, which uses vouchers, was created to fulfill the urgent need for financially vulnerable Jewish seniors of the community to travel safely and comfortably. Sugar Daddy Taxi, a local company, has partnered with the Jewish Alliance to make this vital service a reality. The rides are meant to be reasonably priced and convenient, alleviating the hassle by providing relatively short-distance trips, up to 20 miles. Clients have been very impressed with the professional quality of the service and its drivers.

Making this service affordable is at the heart of Access: Senior Transportation. Each voucher booklet costs $10 for 10 vouchers, though fee waivers are available for individuals facing financial concerns.

From visiting friends to attending synagogue, the reasons to use Access: Senior Transportation have been diverse. “I used the service to go to the hairdresser, it was so nice being independent without having a caregiver transport me,” said Carol from Providence.

Mindy from Smithfield said, “After I tried the service, I loved it so much I purchased a second voucher booklet!”

To receive an information packet mailed to your home, or if you have questions about how to get started using Access: Senior Transportation, call 401-421-411, ext. 411. Caregivers are welcome to call on behalf of clients. Funding for this program comes from the Living on the Edge initiative.

SIMON LICHTER is a planning associate for the Living on the Edge Initiative at the Jewish Alliance.