Introduction
Supplemental Transportation Programs for Seniors, otherwise known as STPs, are programs set up by grassroots, community or regional level entities to provide seniors with alternative forms of transportation. The majority of STPs are not affiliated with any government or municipal transportation organization; instead, these programs are stand alone, and many are staffed by volunteers.
Given the aging of the populace in the United States, the importance of STPs cannot be understated. Strapped-for-cash municipalities don't have funds available to cater to the specific challenges posed by our aging population. While seniors continue to drive at ever older ages, more and more "senior seniors"--those aged 85 and higher--have no true transportation alternatives. Their special needs require the services of a niche provider, such as those who sponsor, organize, maintain, and administer STPs.
This website is a resource for those who wish to start STPs, in that it addresses the theoretical, conceptual, and practical methods conceived to create useful transportation for seniors. The STP Concept area covers the theory and modelling aspects of setting up STPs. PasRide, located in Pasadena, California, is an incubator STPs modelling the smaller, lower cost version of these programs. The Profiles section houses contact information for the 300+ STPs which have been cataloged. Presentations are available to help communicate the overview of the STPs modelling process. Periodically, newsletters addressing current developments will be included in the newsletter section.
The STPs project plan extends through the middle of 2004. Additional information will be made available in the late Summer of 2003, beginning of 2004, and finally in the late Spring of 2004.
A Glimpse of Transportation Through the Eyes of Seniors
In
early 2000, the Beverly Foundation completed a senior transportation
focus group project in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation
and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The purpose of the
effort was to develop opinion data on transportation problems, concerns,
and solutions and on general transportation issues. The project
provided what might be considered a “snapshot” of the problems seniors
(and their caregivers) have in getting around in their communities,
the needs for transportation services, and senior transportation
alternatives in our country.
The project included 22 focus groups in 3 states (Florida, Michigan, and California). Three participant groups included older adults who were considered “transportation rich,” older adults who were considered “transportation deprived” and adults ranging in age from 35 to 70 who were caregivers and “concerned about the transportation” of one or several older adults. Each focus group process required a two-hour time frame in which participants were asked to respond to and comment on a set of oral questions and a survey instrument consisting of 20 written questions.
What emerged from these discussions was a series of themes about difficulties older adults face as drivers, as non-drivers, and as users of community transportation services. Importantly, solutions were identified that encompass the formal responsibilities of the government and the community, the informal roles of family and friends, the relevance of user friendly services, the importance of information and supportive assistance, and the relationship of transportation to quality of life.
Three very important results of the project reinforce and expand previous research findings and anecdotal reports:
- Older adults continue driving as long as possible because they are unaware of, or do not believe they have, alternative means of transportation!
- Older adults frequently limit their driving or stop driving altogether because of functional difficulties!
- By the time they stop driving, many older adults are so disabled that they are unable to use most public and para-transit systems!
- Next to health, transportation is the most important issue for seniors!
Major themes which resulted from the study identified a variety of problems associated with the importance of the car, the difficulties seniors faced in limiting their driving or stopping to drive all together, and the need for alternatives.
Purpose of Transportation: “I want to be able to get to essential places and to the fun things.”
Attachment to the Automobile: “Can’t see, can’t hear, can’t walk, but I have my car.”
Importance of Driving: “My wheels are my independence.”
Beginning to Limit Driving: “Two years before I stopped completely, I stopped driving at night.”
Fear of Not Driving: “If I didn’t drive, I would miss living.”
Incentives to Stop Driving: “I would stop driving if we had an Elder Bus.”
The Impact of Stopping to Drive: “It is the most terrible thing that has ever happened to me.”
Availability of Public Transportation: “It’s more than availability.”
Dependence on Others: “I have difficulty getting rides. Friends and relatives are forgetful.”
Availability of Other Options: “Thank goodness for volunteers.”
It was not surprising that the need for alternative forms of transportation was identified by participants. However, because of the wide variability of needs, it was clear that no single system could address everyone’s requirements. Interestingly, in almost every focus group, participants identified one or more transportation programs that had been developed to fill in the gaps when seniors could no longer drive, could not depend on family members to transport them, or could not access traditional transportation options. They also were very clear about the ways those options could best serve their needs.
“I have limited sight and don’t drive, so I depend on volunteer drivers.”
“I want something that comes to my door.”
“You shouldn’t have to wait for it a long time.”
“We need shuttles or car pools to take you to where you can pick up your bus.”
“I want to be able to get to essential places and to the fun things.”
“I want door-to-door service that is safe.”
“We need people from the community who can get paid to drive others.”
Emerging from this study was an understanding of what seniors and their concerned family and friends believe are their major transportation problems as well as effective solutions to many of those problems. The serendipitous identification of community-based transportation options resulted in the coinage of the term STPs (Supplemental Transportation Programs for Seniors) and the STAR Search program which to date has identified and indexed more than 300 STPs in the United States.
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