Duane Hicks
District seniors will have extra help getting to and from medical appointments in the New Year now that Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc. has received a new shuttle van under the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s “Aging at Home” strategy.
But what’s needed before the shuttle service can get up and running is volunteer drivers.
Laurie Cole, of Riverside Support Services, said she is looking for at least a few licensed volunteers with clean driving records, over the age of 25, who would be willing to assist in providing this service for district seniors.
“We’d like to get more than one driver, only because we know one isn’t going to be able to do it all—then it becomes like a job,” she noted, adding Riverside does not have the budget for a paid driver nor has the ministry provided funding for one.
Cole explained the minimum age limit for drivers is mainly for insurance purposes, as well as to attract those who most likely are beyond possible prohibitive licensing restrictions (like graduated licensing, etc.) But it also helps to have a level of maturity in their volunteers.
“We figure also, because you are working with seniors, a 25-year-old, socially, is more experienced than a 19-year-old,” she remarked. “It might be common sense for them to take a seniors’ arm and help them.”
Those interested in being a volunteer driver can call Cole at 274-3266 ext. 2547.
Cole said she hopes to have the shuttle operational in January, but that will depend on if (and when) volunteers come forward. The number of volunteers also will affect the scheduling for the shuttle van, although she’s estimating it will operate in Rainy River District three days a week.
While it will be based in Fort Frances, Cole said the shuttle service, in fact, will be aimed more at users in the west end of the district.
“We’d like to use it more for the rural areas because we have two handi-vans here, Dial-A-Ride, a taxi service,” she noted. “We’d like to concentrate on the more rural areas if we can to get the people from the country to their medical appointments.
“We don’t like to duplicate services so much.
“But it is for the whole Rainy River District, so if anyone wants to use it in Fort Frances, they’re more than welcome to use it. It is for all the area,” she stressed.
The shuttle will be used strictly for medical appointments, and those using it will be requested to book it about 48 or 72 hours in advance to facilitate scheduling. This is important when one considers a run from Fort Frances to Rainy River would take an hour of travel time each way.
As well, there will be “a small but affordable user fee” for the shuttle, probably in the $2-$3 range, said Cole. While being a driver is a volunteer position, she added it’s possible an honorarium may end up being part of the arrangement.
Cole also pointed out the van is a conventional passenger vehicle and not equipped with a lift. This means people with wheelchairs will not be able to use it and will have to continue to rely on handi-vans instead.
The ministry “Aging at Home” strategy, first announced in August, 2007, is meant to work towards matching the needs of seniors and their caregivers with a wider range of home care and community support services available to enable people to continue leading healthy and independent lives in their own homes.
According to the ministry, most Ontarians manage their chores and live independently in old age. Recent studies show 85 percent of people over 65 want to continue to live at home.
More than $700 million in funding over three years will be invested through the province’s 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) to implement the “Aging at Home” strategy.
