Transportation Plus safely gets homebound seniors to vital appointments. “They remind us each day of the beauty and happiness one feels by helping others,” says Doug Parker, Transportation Plus driver.
“I look back on my life and I wouldn’t trade it for anybody,” shares Lonnie, a 77-year-old widow who lives alone. Wisdom is a benefit of getting older. So is knowing when to ask for help.
Since a bad fall and hip replacement a few years ago, Lonnie has been getting rides to doctor appointments from Transportation Plus.
The Eskaton Foundation program provides round-trip companion rides to doctor appointments and critical trips to low-income seniors who are homebound, cannot drive and live alone. The driver helps her every step of the way, from getting out of the house to into the doctor’s office.
Lonnie’s health has suffered in recent years. Due to severe arthritis all over her body, she uses a walker to get around. She is also a breast cancer survivor. Lonnie gets rides to doctor appointments from Eskaton Foundation’s Transportation Plus. She is pictured here with Steve the driver.
A native Californian, Lonnie enjoyed many wonderful years with her husband. She has been on her own since he passed away 25 years ago. “It’s a struggle to get out of bed every day but I do it. Sometimes I stay in bed until 10 or 11 o’clock,” says Lonnie. Weekly calls from a Telephone Reassurance volunteer are one reason to get up and a chance to socialize. All Transportation Plus participants receive these calls, and they help ensure that she will get help if she really needs it.
With the support of generous donors, Transportation Plus provided 1,619 round-trip rides to low-income homebound seniors like Lonnie last year. Every month the number of requests for rides increases.
Meeting the growing demands is challenging. In the coming year, an additional car and more funding will be needed. Getting vulnerable seniors to vital appointments is very rewarding. Doug Parker whose company provides drivers and donates to the program explains, “We feel that our involvement with the Eskaton mission has simply made us better human beings… We treat our guests as if they are members of our immediate family. They inspire us...and they remind us each day of the beauty and happiness one feels by helping others.”
Click here to learn more about Eskaton Foundation.
What's a home bound senior? Watch this video to find out.
