Last spring I had cataract surgery on my left eye. Easy procedure, wonderful surgeon. But the surgery center was very clear: "You cannot drive home. Someone needs to pick you up." No problem, I thought. Bob would take me.
Then, two days before the surgery, Bob's car went into the shop with a bad transmission. And our daughter was out of town. And my usual backup, my friend Barb, had her own doctor's appointment that same morning. I sat at the kitchen table with the phone book, feeling a little panicky.
It all worked out. A volunteer driver program through our Area Agency on Aging got me there and home. But it taught me that everyone needs a transportation backup plan before they need it.
Why do I need a transportation backup plan?
Even if you drive every day, there will be times you can't. A car in the shop. Eye drops that blur your vision. A procedure with sedation. Icy roads. A new medicine that makes you drowsy. Those are exactly the times you don't want to be calling around in a panic.
The CDC's guidance for older adult drivers recommends planning ahead for other ways to get around, and paying attention to things like vision and medicines that can affect driving. Getting older doesn't mean you have to stop driving. It just means having more than one option.
What ride options are available for seniors?
In plain words, look into four options. Volunteer driver programs, which your Area Agency on Aging can tell you about through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. Your local transit agency, including paratransit, which offers door-to-door rides for people who qualify. Rides to medical appointments through Medicaid or some Medicare Advantage plans. And rideshare apps, or services that let you book those rides with a regular phone call.
Each option has its own rules. Some need a few days' notice, some only go to medical appointments, and some cover certain neighborhoods only. That's why it pays to check before you need one.
What should I ask before I book a ride?
Here are those questions in words. Can you pick me up at my exact address and take me to my exact destination? How many days ahead do I need to book? Can the driver help with a walker, come to the door, or let a friend ride along? And how does the ride home work? A ride to the doctor is only half a plan.
If you'd like to try a rideshare app, practice with a family member on an easy, no-pressure trip first, like to the grocery store. Our guide on free tech classes can help you learn the app at your own pace.
How do I make my own backup plan?
Write a short list and tape it inside a kitchen cabinet: two people you can call, the phone number of one ride program, and the rideshare option you've tested. Put the numbers in your phone too. Update it once a year. If a new medicine or a vision change makes driving feel less safe, talk with your doctor, and don't push through a drive when you feel drowsy. Staying safe keeps you independent longer, and so does staying strong, which I wrote about in adding strength and balance to your walks.
What's taped inside my cabinet now
My backup list has Barb, our neighbor Tom, the volunteer driver program, and the local paratransit number. The volunteer who drove me home from my eye surgery, a retired mailman named Gus, even gave me his card. "Call me anytime, Cindy." Bob's car is fixed now, but I kept Gus's card right on top.
Take good care of yourself, and take even better care of each other.
What's your backup when you can't drive? Tell me in the comments so we can all learn from each other.
