Home » News & Events » Aging Well: Spotlight on Escorted Transportation
More than a ride—a lifeline
A stroke and a dementia diagnosis threw Pamela into a world she never hoped to enter. Dealing with her multiple medical issues was hard enough. Scheduling frequent appointments with her team of 10 doctors became yet another worry. The 76-year-old Rockville resident cannot get to her doctors’ offices by herself and needs to find a way to get there. Her ride must be able to handle her as well as her wheelchair.
The Jewish Council for the Aging’s Escorted Transportation program has been a lifesaver for her. This program serves eligible residents of Montgomery County who are unable to travel alone and need assistance due to physical, cognitive, or emotional impairment.
Rides scheduled through four private driving organizations provide a way to get to medical appointments and other destinations. These trips are vital links not only to healthcare but to important determinants of health and longevity, like access to socialization. But more than just providing a ride, Escorted Transportation drivers act as escorts. They meet clients at their residences, not by just waiting in the car out front. Escorted drivers go up to the door and into the residence to ensure that their passengers have a comfortable and safe experience. Rather than door-to-door service, Escorted drivers offer “through-the-door” assistance, making sure that their passengers are safely in the car to start the journey and back into their homes at the end.
“I am totally and permanently disabled. I live alone,” said Pamela. She hates to be late. Escorted Transportation fits her needs. She called it “a stress-free product.” She has tried other transportation services, but they were often late and tended to treat her like cargo. “I find the service Escorted provides is not common,” she said. “It takes the stress off.”
To schedule a ride, clients call JCA and speak with Paula Riddle, JCA program manager for Escorted Transportation and Senior Helpline. “She’s a peach and a good person. She communicates with compassion, empathy, and passion.” Pamela also had good things to say about her drivers, noting they are courteous, patient, and keep their cars clean. “One thing that is crucial to me is transportation,” she said. Without JCA, “I think my life would have deteriorated. The stress of finding rides with registered drivers who got her to appointments on time easily could give her another stroke, she said. “I find it to be a real blessing for me.”
Pamela has been using Escorted Transportation since 2014, and she is one of 106 Montgomery County residents who used this transportation service during the last fiscal year. Altogether, drivers made 663 round trips. JCA’s Escorted Transportation service has an active client list of 327 people who count on us when they need a ride.
Escorted is not the only transportation service JCA offers.
Connect-A-Ride helps Montgomery County seniors and adults of all ages with disabilities to find the transportation they need. JCA mobility specialists provide tailored transportation options and help with schedules, benefits, and eligibility requirements. Unlike the Escorted Transportation service, Connect-A-Ride offers clients several options, both free and with fees, that best suit their needs. Mobility specialists provide unbiased information about a range of options.
JCA’s VillageRides partners with villages and community organizations in Montgomery and Prince George‘s counties that provide volunteer transportation for seniors and adults with disabilities. Village volunteers take their neighbors to medical appointments, grocery shopping, and more. VillageRides trains volunteers in 16 villages, 12 in Montgomery County and the other four in Prince George’s County. JCA staff show the volunteer drivers how to use a computer transportation program and the best ways to do their jobs. Staff talk about confidentiality, what to say when setting up rides, and what procedures to follow in the event of an accident.
Travel Training offers free half-day workshops that help Montgomery County residents aged 50+ become confident and comfortable taking public transportation. Participants learn to read the Metro map, understand digital schedule signs, load a fare card, and find a station’s emergency and accessibility features. The workshops run about three hours and include classroom training, a trip on a Ride On bus, a visit to a Metro station, and a brief round-trip train ride.
The overall goal of JCA’s multifaceted transportation offerings is to make sure everyone can get to where they need to go, on time and without hiccups. Our clients often are socially isolated and overwhelmed by what life has thrown at them. As Pamela said, “JCA takes the stress off.”
