presentation on planning transportation options practical solutions & volunteer driver programs...
TRANSCRIPT
Presentation on PlanningPresentation on Planning
Transportation OptionsTransportation OptionsPractical SolutionsPractical Solutions
&&Volunteer Driver ProgramsVolunteer Driver Programs
The Volunteer Driver TurnKey KitThe Volunteer Driver TurnKey Kit20052005
Copyright © 2007 Beverly Foundation
Volunteer Driver Program PlanningVolunteer Driver Program Planning
This presentation is intended to provide assistance
in your planning discussion. The presentation includes
(1) an introduction to transportation options(2) challenges seniors face with many options(3) the rationale for planning a volunteer driver program
and criteria for success in making it “senior friendly”(4) models that exist throughout the country(5) considerations for discovering the right model for you
We encourage you to adapt the presentation to your
particular needs.
They Are Central to LifeThey Are Central to Life
People ProblemsPeople ProblemsInstitutional ProblemsInstitutional Problems
Many Are Out ThereMany Are Out There
Transportation OptionsTransportation Options
Visit a FriendVisit a Friend
HomeHome
Why Transportation Options?
““The Tie That Binds”The Tie That Binds”
Population ProblemsPopulation Problems
ShoppingShopping
There Are Numerous OptionsThere Are Numerous Options
Ground Transportation Alternatives for Seniors
Automobile: single passenger, shared ride
Public Transit: buses, light rail transit, trains/subways community shuttles & jitneys
Paratransit: ADA transit, Dial-A-Ride transit
Private Transit: taxis, limousines, chauffeur services
Specialized Transit: 1. hospital based transit programs2. Interfaith & church-based programs3. volunteer service programs (Red Cross)4. volunteer transit services5. senior program transit (adult day care,
nutrition site, senior center
Other Options: Low speed vehicles, bicycles, walking
Institutional ChallengesInstitutional Challenges
Providing Options Isn’t Simple
philosophy of serving the general population don’t view seniors as different than anybody else lack of awareness of special needs of seniors funds are limited vehicles are not adaptable services are both high cost and high maintenance services aren’t coordinated services are narrowly focused staff is unprepared environment is difficult for service delivery
People ChallengesPeople Challenges
Seniors Can’t Always Use Options unaware of existing options can’t walk to the bus stop unable to wait in hot sun unable to travel for long periods of time in need of assistance from escorts fearful of getting lost afraid of falling unable to pay the costs concerned about safety can’t get to the fun things in life
Total 65 - 84 85+Population Population Population
2000Total 275,306,000 30,523,000 (11%) 4,312,000 (1.6%)
2030Total 351,070,000 61,388,000 (17%) 8,931,000 (2.5%)
Change 22% 50% 52%
The “Old Old” Will Need Options
Population ChallengesPopulation Challenges
Having Options Is Central To LifeHaving Options Is Central To LifeTR
ANSPORTA
TIO
NThe Tie That Binds
Essentials Non Essentials
Home Care Hairdresser
Adult Day Care Volunteer
Work
Grocery Shop Visiting Friends
Medical Care Theatre
Social Services Library
Trips
Data from ResearchData from Research
The Volunteer Driver OptionThe Volunteer Driver Option
RestaurantRestaurant
HomeHome
Do We Replicate or Adapt?
““Community Focus”Community Focus”
Criteria for SuccessCriteria for Success
ChurchChurch
VolunteerismVolunteerism
Are Volunteers Really An Option?
Senior Volunteers in the United States (age 55+)27.7 million total number of senior volunteers
3.3 hours per volunteer = 4.8 billion hours @ $15.40 per hour
Dollar value of volunteer time…
Adult Volunteers in the United States44% of adults volunteer = 83.9 million Americans
3.6 hours per volunteer = 15.5 billion hours @ $15.40 per hour
Dollar value of volunteer time…
$239,200,000,000
$71,200,000,000
Volunteer Driver Research 2004
A Profile • drive personal vehicles• commit 1 to 5 hours a week
• available on weekdays (sometimes evenings +) • concerns: time, liability, handling disabled
• satisfaction: helping people, feeling needed, getting to know riders, and
donating time / money• majority: 55+ (someday riders)
Advantages• tap into human resource• offer supportive service
• give joy to the rider• enable driver to give back• expand services & save $
Challenges• eliminating liability concerns
• securing reasonable ins.• recruiting volunteers
• providing vol. management• raising funds
“data from organizations representing 2,753 volunteer drivers
Criteria For Success
Provide assurance that transportation options
(to driving the car)
will be “senior friendly”
Criteria: the 5 A’s* Availability
Accessibility
Acceptability
Affordability
Adaptability
*Developed by the Beverly Foundation in 2000
Included by the GAO in 2004
Incorporated by NASUA in 2004
Availability
The Volunteer Driver Program….
• provides transportation to seniors
• involves members of the community as volunteer drivers
• is able to recruit and retain sufficient number of drivers
• provides services during normal “work” hours
• ensures vehicles are clean and well maintained
Acceptability
The Volunteer Driver Program…
• uses automobiles to provide majority of transportation
• does not require advance scheduling
• provides insurance coverage for volunteer drivers
• covers the driver’s deductible in the event of a crash
• has organizational affiliations with human & transit
services
Accessibility
The Volunteer Driver Program…
• can meet needs of majority of elders in the community
• can take riders to destinations beyond city & county
boundaries
• provides “door to door” transportation
• provides training to riders on how to access services
• provides driver “sensitivity to seniors” training
Affordability
The Volunteer Driver Program…
• uses “volunteer” driver vehicles
• does not charge for its services
• accepts passenger donations
• is able to acquire insurance at a “affordable” price
• is able to reimburse drivers for mileage or costs
Adaptability
The Volunteer Driver Program…
• can provide services to multiple destinations
• makes an effort to link riders with other service
• can provide “door thru door” transportation if needed
• can provide transit anytime (day, evenings, weekends)
• can access vehicles to accommodate wheelchairs plus
Johnson City Catch A RideJohnson City Catch A Ride
West Austin CaregiversWest Austin Caregivers
#4 Models & Methods#4 Models & Methods
ServicesServices
HomeHome
Are There Success Stories?
““Volunteer Models”Volunteer Models”
TRIPTRIP
Ride ConnectionRide Connection
GadaboutGadabout
Johnson City Catch A Ride
Location: Olathe, Kansas (90% suburban, 10% rural)
Type: government agency, administered by AAA
Target Audience: seniors and disabled
Number of Volunteer Drivers: 75
Number of Trips: 5,136
Type of Vehicle: uses riders’ vehicles
Type of Rides: medical, shopping and recreational
Special Feature: use of vehicles owned by riders
Budget: $50,000
Sustainability: started in 1999
Gadabout
Location: Ithaca, New York (urban and rural)
Type: Independent provider
Target Audience: seniors and disabled and special populations
Number of Volunteer Drivers: 30 volunteer drivers (42 paid
drivers)
Number of Trips: 61,202 one way rides
Type of Vehicles: vehicles owned by program
Type of Rides: rides to medial, shopping & recreation
Special Feature: also runs the community’s paratransit service
Budget: $995,802
Sustainability: started in 1976
West Austin Caregivers +
Location: Austin, Texas (urban-suburban)
Type: Sponsorship by churches (interfaith caregiver program)
Target Audience: people age 60 and over (some younger people)
Number of Volunteer Drivers: 85
Number of Trips: 4,161
Type of Vehicles: volunteer vehicles
Type of Rides: rides for any purpose
Special Feature: facilitator of 8-member network of transit
services
Budget: 54,675
Sustainability: Started in 1983
Ride Connection
Location: Portland Oregon (urban, suburban, rural)
Type: started by public transit to facilitate volunteer drivers
Target Audience: seniors and disabled
Number of Volunteer Drivers: 405 volunteers and 243 paid
Number of Trips: 300,000
Type of Vehicles: program owned and volunteer driver vehicles
Type of Rides: rides for any purpose
Special Feature: focus on providing escorts
Budget: $5,200,000
Sustainability: started in 1988
TRIP
Location: Riverside, CA (suburban)
Type: AAA and County Transportation Commission
Target Audience: Seniors and People with Disabilities
Number of Volunteer Drivers: 750 - 1,000
Number of Trips: 35,000
Type of Vehicle: volunteer driver’s vehicle
Type of Rides: Anyplace 24/8\
Special Feature: riders recruit their own drivers
Budget: $375,000
Sustainability: Started in 1993\
Number of Crashes: none in 12 years of operation
The Right CostThe Right Cost
Designing Your ProgramDesigning Your Program
HomeHome
What Do I Want?
““Senior Friendliness”Senior Friendliness”
The Right SkillsThe Right SkillsSocial Social ServicesServices
Grocery Grocery ShoppingShopping
The Right SponsorThe Right Sponsor
The Right ConfigurationThe Right Configuration
The Right InsuranceThe Right Insurance
The Right LinkagesThe Right Linkages
The Right AttitudeThe Right Attitude
The Right ConfigurationThe Right ConfigurationThe Right ConfigurationThe Right Configuration
Riders
Quantity/Quality of Life Rides
Populations Served
Time of Service
Charges
Operating Budget
Infra-structure
Drivers Service
VehiclesCapital
Staff
Paid
Volunteer
Owned
Volunteer
Fixed Route
Door Thru Door
The Volunteer Driver Model
Owned Vehicles
Capital Costs
Paid Drivers
Paid Staff
HighCOST
HighMAINTENANCE
LowCOST
LowMAINTENANCE
The Right CostThe Right Cost
Volunteer Vehicles
No Capital Costs
Volunteer Drivers
Volunteer Staff
TransportationService
The Right SponsorThe Right Sponsor
Transportation Service
New Service
Area Agency on Aging
Senior Center
Adult Day Service
Assisted Living
Health Facility
Add-on Service
Public Transportation
Dial-A-Ride
ADA Transit
Taxi Service
Private Transit
Volunteer Transit
Supplemental Service
Sponsor
Volunteer Driver Program
The Right Skills
Research Interest and Background
Sensitivity to Needs
Organizational Skills
Systems Orientation
Risk Management Strategy
Fiscal Expertise
Fund Development
Entrepreneurial Skills
Motivational Leadership
Community Knowledge and Interest
Public Relations Skills
The Right InsuranceThe Right InsuranceOrganizational
Insurance
Transportation
Program Insurance
DirectorsInsurance
Liability
Organization
Personal Property
Volunteer
VolunteerLiability Insurance
Accidental
Driver
Excess Auto Liability
Assets, ReputationBoard, Employees
Riders, Drivers,Road Users
Commercial InsuranceDriver Recruitment, Screening
Verification, Training
GeneralLiability
The Right Linkages The Right Linkages
Assistanceoptions bookcommunity meetingssurveys/focus groups
business planadministrative packageevaluationreimbursement
Funding Constituency Contacts
Legitimacy Resources Media Attention
Community Network Leadership Commitment to Success
Originator
Sponsor
Senior Advisory Council
CoordinatingCommittee
Advisor
The Right AttitudeThe Right Attitude
“Senior Friendly”
availability
accessibility
acceptability
adaptability
affordability
“Senior Difficult”
too far
too high
too inconvenient
too rigid
too costly
CONCLUSION
10 Tips for PlanningA Volunteer Driver Program for Seniors
•recognition that seniors need transportation
•awareness that seniors can’t always access traditional
services
•willingness to take the time to develop a good plan
•organization or group to facilitate the process
•knowledge about options available in the community
•understanding of what constitutes “senior friendliness”
•desire to involve volunteers in providing transportation
•information about possible models for consideration
•community involvement in decision making
•enough time to develop a good approach