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