Evaluating Transportation Options in Assisted Living
Since older adults are at a higher risk of auto accidents after turning 75, sacrificing their licenses is a common way to stay safe. Unfortunately, this decreases feelings of independence and could lead to isolation and loneliness.
Luckily, your aging loved one doesn't need to choose between risky endeavors and maintaining personal autonomy. Read on to learn how senior transportation in retirement communities can help your loved one retain a high quality of life.
The Basics of Senior Transportation
Senior transportation services are an amenity that comes with the best-assisted living communities.
When your loved one moves into a beautiful apartment, they'll gain access to regular calendar events. These calendar events don't just include game nights and guest lectures on the community grounds. They also prioritize outings to local shops, delicious restaurants, and city centers.
The community provides a disability-accessible bus or van to transport residents from Point A to Point B. It's simple, and everyone who wants to tag along can get into the vehicles near their apartments.
Communities also offer individual transit services for those who book chauffeured vans in advance. This makes it easy for seniors to get to medical appointments and stay healthy. Pets are an important part of senior living as well, and older adults can get transportation to take them to and from the vet.
Basically, senior transportation services are accessible vehicles with professional chauffeurs. They're close to home, easy to use, and keep seniors mobile and independent.
Why Are Transportation Services Beneficial?
Social withdrawal is one of the biggest risk factors for depression. Seniors are generally at a higher risk for mental illness than younger adults. They frequently live alone, have lost loved ones, and have trouble getting around.
A senior community provides elderly individuals with a sense of belonging. Residents can make friends with each other and spend time in dining halls, TV rooms, and outdoor seating areas.
They also can get out and see more people because of senior travel services.
When older adults can easily get to other locations, they have the chance to interact with the outside world. This can help them feel young, especially when interacting with younger waiters, shop owners, and more. It also means talking to more people and imparting wisdom so they can feel a sense of purpose.
Less Isolation
About a quarter of Americans over 65 are socially isolated. 34% of people between the ages of 50 and 80 report feeling isolated and lonely as well.
Social isolation puts older adults at an increased risk of many issues:
- 50% higher probability of developing dementia
- 68% increased risk of hospitalization
- 57% increased likelihood of ER visits
- 29% higher incidences of heart disease
- 32% greater probability of stroke
Seniors that get out more mitigate these risks by frequently engaging with others. Having new experiences is a fulfilling way to spend time with friends and a great way to meet even more people!
Accessible Travel
Many families don't understand the importance of senior transportation when public transit services are available. However, it's important to remember that public transit isn't always extremely accessible to those with mobility and memory issues.
Many seniors in assisted living communities don't have the physical means to get to a bus stop outside of their residence. Even those that do may struggle to remember where it is and have problems with navigation.
Buses and trains also aren't always accessible for those with mobility aids. While buses are required to have a couple of accessible seats, it's not enough for a group of seniors looking to go out together. Plus, there's no guarantee that even one will be available for a solo outing.
Senior transportation services are specifically designed with accessibility in mind. They come right to the resident's place of living and accommodate several people in walkers and wheelchairs.
How to Assess Senior Services at Wisconsin Communities
When choosing a senior living community, it's critical to prioritize emotional support and compassion. However, it's just as important that you think about physical accessibility needs like senior travel services.
Transportation availability should be one of the most important differentiators between several different communities. This is because a location without reliable transit can't give your loved one the active lifestyle they need.
Consider Schedules and Service Areas
Make sure to learn what vehicles are available and what their schedule looks like. See if the set schedule is diverse enough to accommodate all of your loved one's needs. Then, look into on-demand transportation services in the community and see whether they're necessary.
You should also learn more about the service area for available transportation. Seniors need to be able to get to bustling activity centers like town squares and shopping districts. It's also important that they can get to libraries and parks to remain mentally present and physically fit.
Ask the Right Questions
Visiting a Wisconsin senior living community is important before moving a loved one there. It gives you the full picture of what their daily life will be like. It also means you can ask the experts working there important questions.
Some things to ask about transportation include:
- Are there any additional transportation fees?
- What transportation is commonly provided?
- How frequently is transportation available?
- Can I see a community calendar (to assess outings)?
- What types of vehicles do you use to move seniors to new locations?
- How do you ensure accessibility in these vehicles?
- Is there a process for booking transportation services?
Learning all you can helps you feel confident in your decision regarding where your loved one can thrive.
Foster Senior Independence in a Retirement Community
Now that you know the ins and outs of senior transportation, it's time to look for a retirement community that offers a wide range of options for people who don't want to slow down as they age.
Lakehouse Lake Mills is committed to providing a wide range of services including accessible transportation services. Our staff is committed to ensuring that older adults can keep enjoying life as they age, so contact us today to schedule a tour of our inviting community ASAP.