If you care for a senior loved one in Manatee County or the surrounding area and they no longer drive, you may wonder how they’ll be able to get to appointments, the grocery store, and other obligations. This may especially be an issue if they previously were able to drive but can no longer do so.
The good news is that they aren’t stranded. There are actually several ways they can get around, some of which may seem obvious and others that you may not have considered. Here are seven ways to help the senior loved one in your life get where they need to go.
- Offer them rides. If you can’t take them everywhere they need to go, see if you can share the responsibility with other family members or loved ones.
- Take advantage of Manatee County’s Handy Bus, which provides transportation to those with disabilities who cannot use regular fixed-route buses. Handy Bus is a shared-ride service with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant vehicles. Handy Bus requires advance registration and may have other restrictions. Explore other Handy Bus restrictions and requirements before your loved one actually needs a ride.
- If your senior loved one lives at a senior living facility, have them take advantage of any shuttle services. Even if they still drive or live in the independent living facility, using the shuttle occasionally could still be helpful.
- Find out if any care services that you work with offer rides.
- Explore public transportation via MCAT. This may not be an option for all seniors depending on their physical health. However, if there’s a bus route nearby that can take them to the supermarket or very close to a doctor’s office, that could be another option. The Manatee Board of Commissioners recently voted to make MCAT fare-free, starting in November 2022 and continuing for an 18-month period.
- Use transportation services like Uber and Lyft. Of course, compare costs to find what’s more affordable.
- Use the nonprofit Senior Rides Transport, available for those age 60 and over Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $2 per ride and $2.15 per mile, with no tips allowed.
Call Secure Aging to Find Out How We Can Help Seniors With Care Management
At Secure Aging in Bradenton, we transform the weight of the world into a sigh of relief for our senior clients and their concerned family members. The mission of Secure Aging is to protect and preserve our client’s independence and dignity through careful and thoughtful financial and care management. As our clients age, it is their desire to remain independent and age with dignity. Our services protect our clients from talented con artists looking to exploit and deplete the financial resources of our vulnerable seniors. Secure Aging helps families in Manatee County and Sarasota County and in and around the communities of Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Ellenton, Holmes Beach, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Myakka City, Palmetto, Parrish, and Sarasota. Call us at 941-761-9338, or visit us online at www.secureaging.com.
