Alternatives to Driving

Quick summary

Before your parent has to stop driving, it's a good idea to identify alternative sources of transportation. Consider the following sources, and learn how to access them.

Paratransit

If your parent is disabled and can't use regular public transportation, he might be eligible for paratransit. Under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disabilities are entitled to the same access to public transportation as everyone else, adapted as needed. Adaptations include such things as wheelchair lifts and door-to-door service. Your parent must apply for paratransit service. For more information on paratransit, see Paratransit: What is it, and can it help my parents?.

Cost: Paratransit costs the same or sometimes more than regular public transportation. Most agencies have senior discounts.

How to find it: Paratransit is offered through local public transportation agencies. Do an online search with the terms public transportation or bus system plus the name of your parent's town. Or try these state-by-state transit-finder tools from the AARP and the American Public Transportation Association.

Tip: Transit agency websites usually have detailed paratransit information, including application forms.

Senior Dial-a-Ride, van, or shared transportation services

An increasing variety of door-to-door van or car pool-type services catering to seniors are available in many communities, operated by local transportation companies or by nonprofit organizations. (Sometimes these are the same services used for paratransit, available to nondisabled people for a fee.) These services may not have as much flexibility as taxis and tend to follow set routes, such as linking seniors to the local shopping center, but they can be extremely useful.

Cost: The price of senior transit varies but is likely to be less than a taxi and more than regular public transportation. Some services may charge on a sliding scale.

How to find it: Look in the telephone directory under senior transportation or public transportation . Check online with terms like senior dial-a-ride and senior transit . Also try the Eldercare Locator tool, a service of the U.S. Administration on Aging. It can also be reached by calling 800-677-1116 (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST).

Tip: Many senior centers have door-to-door service for people using the facility. While this doesn't help your parent with getting around town, it makes it easy for him to visit the center for a class, meal, or social activity.

Family, friends, and caregivers

Try enlisting friends and family for help driving your parent on errands and outings. Considering hiring an occasional driver. Ask friends, church or other faith groups, and senior organizations for referrals.

Cost: In some cases, your parent may find volunteer drivers who don't expect payment. Otherwise, drivers should be paid similarly to in-home caregivers, meaning on a range from minimum wage to "high-end" salaries of $15 to $25 an hour.The Eldercare Locator, which connects you to a local agency, can help you learn the going rate for in-home care in your parent's area. It can also be reached by calling 800-677-1116 (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST).

Tips: Before hiring a driver, make sure you see a copy of his driver's license and proof of insurance, and go for at least one drive with the candidate. Check references. If a driver is using your or your parent's car, check with your insurance company about coverage.

Taxis, limousines, and other private pay-for-service transit

If your parent doesn't want to use public transportation or isn't eligible for paratransit, consider judicious use of taxis and other private door-to-door transport. While not inexpensive, these are usually convenient and comfortable.

Cost: Prices are calculated by distance traveled and time (including waiting time), and they vary by community. If you look online using the name of your parent's town and terms such as taxi fares or limousine fares , you might find tools to help you calculate prices. Online tools give taxi fares for larger U.S. cities and taxi fare information.

How to find it: Check in the telephone directory under taxis,limousines, or transportation companies. Do the same online, always using your parent's hometown. Senior centers in your parent's neighborhood may give referrals for selected services.

Tip: You or your parent should call ahead to get fare estimates to avoid last-minute fumbling around for the right change.

Public transportation

If your parent lives in a metropolitan area, public transportation -- usually buses and trains -- can be a great way of getting around. But if your parent is unfamiliar with the public transit system, you can help by taking your parent on some orientation runs on the routes he's likely to use most. Go places together. Grab schedules and route maps as you go, for his home reference. As your parent learns the ropes, he should gain more confidence and enjoy the independence.

Cost: Tickets range roughly from $1 to $5 a ride, depending on the locale, agency, and distance traveled. Most have reduced senior fares and cost-saving passes that are cheaper than paying trip by trip.

How to find it: Do an online search with the terms public transportation or bus system with the name of your parent's town. Or try these state-by-state transit-finder tools from the AARP and the American Public Transportation Association.

Tip: Local transit agency websites usually have maps, schedules, and fare information.

For more ideas on helping your nondriving parent, see "When Your Parents Can No Longer Drive".

Also check the website of the National Center on Senior Transportation, which offers further transportation resources.