Senior Mobility Dispatch Focus Group

Movability is a nonprofit organization that serves as the Central Texas Transportation Management Association working with individuals and organizations to build the region around people, not cars. For more information on Movability, please visit them online at https://movabilitytx.org/

Central Texas Senior Mobility Coordination & Feasibility Dispatch Study

• What are your transportation needs? What opinions do you have on existing transportation options available to serve seniors?
• This focus group is an opportunity to share your voice and experiences!
• Join us at RBJ Residences in the Rebekah Community Room at 1 PM

As the Central Texas region continues to age, there are many older adults who need help with transportation to get to medical appointments, the grocery store, or other errands. There are nonprofits filling this transportation gap, like Drive-A-Senior-ATX. They have volunteer drivers that drive seniors to key destinations. But these nonprofits have a problem of high demand from seniors, but not enough volunteer drivers. Also, volunteer drivers are also typically in the 50-70 age range, so these organizations face issues of their own volunteer base “aging out.” Lastly, with recent increases in gas prices costs are no joke either.

The feasibility study aims to make limited volunteer driver time more efficient. How a typical ride works currently is that a volunteer driver picks up a senior, drives to their appointment, stays with them for the appointment, and drives them back home. If volunteer drivers could be “dispatched,” then they could pick up multiple seniors to drop off at their appointments and then maybe drive another person back or pick up a different senior.

Movability is working with a variety of community partners and stakeholders who have a vested interest in improving transportation options for seniors in the region. They include the City of Austin, AGE of Central Texas, Caregiving Café, Capital Metro, and RBJ Senior Housing.