Home » News & Events » Aging Well: Spotlight on Connect-A-Ride
Jewish Council for the Aging’s Connect-A-Ride (CAR) is a free service that helps Montgomery County seniors and adults of all ages with disabilities find the transportation they need. Certified Information and Mobility Specialists provide callers with tailored transportation options and help with schedules, benefits, and eligibility requirements.
While mobility specialists don’t provide transportation, they offer referrals from a variety of public and private providers whom they trust to handle the needs of those needing a ride.
A Gaithersburg couple who had difficulty walking reached out to CAR, unsure of how they would get to all the medical appointments they needed. The 87-year-old woman said she was “feeling overwhelmed” until the helpful staff at CAR reassured her and referred her to Gaithersburg Help, a local volunteer service agency. They have since taken multiple trips to their doctor’s office, which turned out to be “just fantastic,” according to the woman. She expressed her gratitude for CAR’s mobility managers, who also referred the couple to Call-N-Ride and MetroAccess.
CAR’s mobility specialists also assisted a 65-year-old Sandy Spring resident who needed transportation to a medical appointment. Her insurance offers free rides, but only if requested 72 hours in advance. However, this woman needed to see her doctor the very next day. CAR referred her to a private taxi service for that appointment and also let her know about Call-N-Ride and Olney Rides for her future needs.
And a 54-year-old resident with a brain injury reached out to CAR, explaining that she had been trying for more than three months to determine the status of her Reduced Fare Smart Trip Card for People with Disabilities from WMATA. She depended on that free bus fare but was growing frustrated with how long she had to remain on hold when reaching out to WMATA. Our mobility specialist contacted WMATA and obtained the correct information the woman needed to get her answers. She was so grateful for the help that she emailed CAR to let them know that her special card was on the way.
These are just three examples of the 1,799 people who sought assistance from the program in the last year. More than half of those callers requested assistance obtaining a ride to a medical appointment, and 15% needed access to grocery stores and faith-based events. “There are dozens of websites and phone numbers for programs and services in the county, but only CAR makes a comprehensive assessment of a person’s transportation needs and offers personalized guidance. We help people navigate so they can get through the sea of options and find what works for them,” explained Rachel Goldberg, JCA’s Senior Director, Center for Information Services.
Added one mobility specialist, who has been with JCA for more than seven years, “Access to reliable transportation makes such a meaningful difference in people’s lives.” Dependable transportation “helps them stay independent, connected to their communities, and able to get to medical appointments, grocery stores, social activities, and more.”
If you or a family member is a resident of Montgomery County and needs transportation assistance, contact Connect-A-Ride at 301-738-3252 or ConnectARide@AccessJCA.org.
