My mom is healthy and with-it, but too old to drive. She needs to get around town, but I am too busy to drive her everywhere. Taxis are too expensive (especially for her frugal mindset) and public transportation is not conveniently located and uncomfortable for someone her age. Are there any local resources that can help me and my mom?
COMMENT 134287
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2011-01-07 09:05 AM |
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Call Easy Lift? And check with the extraordinary range of senior resources this town provides- Parks and Rec has senior activities that are helpful. Independent Living Resources is another program that tries to keep seniors living independently in their homes. Can she walk to a bus stop - senior passes for MTD are cheap. Does she belong to a church or other spiritual affinity group because sometimes they have groups to help with the mobility needs of their senior members.
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COMMENT 134324
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2011-01-07 10:19 AM |
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As the original poster stated, riding the bus isn't do-able for his/her relative, so that lets that out. Easy Lift will take previously registered disabled people wherever they want to go for $3.50, PROVIDED they live no more than 3/4 of a mile from an MTD stop. (I have no idea what THAT'S all about). So if you live in outside the city and/or are more than 3/4 of a mile from a bus stop, you're out of luck. (Also, you pretty much have to book Easy Lift at least a day in advance). It would be nice if a grassroots group could organize a squad of volunteer drivers to help shut-ins and handicapped folks get around town, but it's a foregone that the cabdrivers and taxi companies--not to mention the PUC--would raise holy hell about that, so I don't think that's going to happen any time soon. To answer the question--no, there apparently are no viable alternative resources for elderly/handicapped transportation around here. Good luck! I share your frustration.
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EDHATBARBARA
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2011-01-07 10:39 AM |
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In Carpinteria, there is a service called HELP that provides this assistance; I don't know what is like it in Santa Barbara. You might call Hospice of Santa Barbara, Inc. -- they'll know what's available.
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COMMENT 134337P
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2011-01-07 10:50 AM |
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MTD Senior cash fare is 85 cents....10-ride pass is $5.50....30 day unlimited is $20.00..... Many many seniors use the 10-ride pass....... to go anywhere between Winchester Canyon and the south end of Carpinteria
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COMMENT 134354
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2011-01-07 11:47 AM |
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This is why seniors move to places that better meet their needs, instead of digging in and demanding others to do this for them. She needs to move. Or, set up an account with a cab company and call it a weekly/monthly living expense now. How about online shopping?
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COMMENT 134355
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2011-01-07 11:49 AM |
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The poster very clearly indicated in his/her original post that due to the distance of an MTD bus stop and due to comfort issues for the senior-citizen mom, BUS SERVICE IS NOT VIABLE in this instance.
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COMMENT 134382P
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2011-01-07 12:30 PM |
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See if Morgan Freeman is available.
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COMMENT 134386
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2011-01-07 12:38 PM |
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When terms like "not convenient" and "not comfortable" are applied to our public transportation options, it needs further clarification. No one said public transportation was "not possible". When faced with moving or paying for cabs, cabs are probably cheaper. Frugality has nothing to do with this when spending someone else's time and money. Daughter has a choice: get the money saved not using taxis in an inheritance, or spend it now on mother's present benefit.
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COMMENT 134396
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2011-01-07 01:19 PM |
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386. Agree. Pony up and solve the problem. Always looking for a hand out. Put mom on the bus. Have her ride with the regulars. Otherwise
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COMMENT 134404
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2011-01-07 01:58 PM |
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386 seemed a little harsh. If mom's the frugal one, I don't think daughter is worried about her inheritance. Cabs are expensive. I've only taken one twice in 8 years I've been here (and never had to elsewhere). Hated the bus. Had some toothless weirdo basically sitting in my lap, reading my magazine & talking to me (I had headphones on). I avoid the bus after that. I think EasyLift is a good option. If the mom lives in 'the boonies' of SB and EasyLift won't go there, you need to question a few things. Would moving mom closer to stuff she needs be easier, or would mom be willing to fork over the cash to someone for transportation: either a cab or personal assistant if you don't have any friends/family willing to help. For a lot less than a cab would cost for a few hours, you can hire her someone to come out once or twice a week.
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COMMENT 134413P
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2011-01-07 02:23 PM |
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I agree that cabs are VERY expensive. I recently paid $25 for a one-way 4 mile trip home from the airport that took all of ten minutes. (and the cabbie shot daggers from his eyes when he didn't get a tip on top of that massive fee!) Translated to an hour of work that was $300 an hour. For $20 you should be able to hire someone to take you shopping for an hour.
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COMMENT 134478
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2011-01-07 04:53 PM |
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Students love getting flexible hour jobs - hire a student or even better let the student have use of your mom's car in exchange for running trips for her. Talk to Westmont, UCSB or SBCC student employment offices.
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COMMENT 134506P
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2011-01-07 07:05 PM |
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Great idea as far as hiring a responsible student - especially a college kid.
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COMMENT 134512
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2011-01-07 07:17 PM |
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Call Easy Lift. Find out if she is eligible based on her home address. It is not as restrictive as poster 324 has expressed, though you indeed need to have the foresight to arrange the ride in advance (they take bookings up to two weeks prior to the requested time and date) because the demand for their service exceeds the capacity. Poster 287 also has a great suggestion to call ILRC. There are numerous senior serving orgs in town, and Easy Lift is soon partnering with several of them to offer group rides to their programs and services at no charge to the rider under the umbrella of a program called Greatest Generation Accessible Transportation.
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COMMENT 134537P
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2011-01-07 10:43 PM |
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Or run an ad in Craigslist looking for someone to drive your mom around for several hours a day, that is, drive to wherever she wants to go, wait for her and then drive her home. Shouldn't cost more than $15/hour and gas -- and be sure and get references, etc.
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COMMENT 134545
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2011-01-08 06:26 AM |
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Call Easy Lift....that's what they do....I know there is great demand for these types of services and it will continue to grow as the population gets older......call and speak to Ernesto....681-1410.
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COMMENT 134554
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2011-01-08 07:40 AM |
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Time for you and her(and me too) to revive the gas saving slogan from WWII:" is this trip necessary?" Not just her, but most of us , think of every desire as a need. I'll grant trips to the doctor and to church if she thinks staying home will send here to hell, but how many of those "needs" are shopping and having a cup of coffee? Visiting someone to chat? 354 has it nailed.
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COMMENT 134563
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2011-01-08 08:11 AM |
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Obviously some of the posters are not in the elderly category. Depression is a huge problem for oldsters and getting out of the house for any reason and staying active when at all possible is better than any antidepressant. It's easy to talk about on-line shopping and not making unnecessary trips when you have no limitations. My mother lived at Valle Verde and was unable to drive so I hired a woman for $20 an hour to take her to her appointed rounds - not only did it make her feel independent it also provided companionship.
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SEEDLADY
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2011-01-08 10:03 AM |
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call your local RSVP --Retired Senior Volunteer Program. They can help find a student or other driver for your mom. Do you have a local Ride-On type runabout service like SLO county does? They're great, charge about $2 each way. You generally need to book the day before. Great for Dr's, hair salon appt's. Sometimes local cab companies have a senior discount when you buy a punch card ticket in advance for so many rides. Loosing the ability to drive yourself is a BIG deal. Treat mom with care and understanding. I'm sure you'd be doing the driving if you were able. Good Luck, dear. Let us know what you work out so others might benefit from your experiences.
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COMMENT 134586P
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2011-01-08 10:07 AM |
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@354 Not everybody can afford (or needs) to move. Senior housing with runabout vans run upwards of $3-4 K a month. Let's try to be not so cavalier, shall we? People have thrown out some viable and inexpensive options, which is what the OP asked for. Way to go edhatters.
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COMMENT 134592P
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2011-01-08 10:18 AM |
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386 and 396 Maybe leave the judgements aside - we don't know all the circumstances...
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COMMENT 134653P
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2011-01-08 02:23 PM |
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My 92-year old neighbor pays $65/week to a long-time, trusted employee to drive her on one day a week. She does all her errands (doctor, hair, shopping) that day and then takes the employee to lunch. In turn, the employee checks up on her to make sure she has enough food, brings her holiday goodies, etc. It is all about relationships isn't it?
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COMMENT 134685
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2011-01-08 06:06 PM |
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Most auto insurance policies do not cover you when you are transporting passengers for a fee - so if you are in a crash and the adjuster finds out what you were doing, the company may only pay the minimum liability limit allowed by law and possibly then sue you to get even that amount out of your hide (i.e. you pay for your own repairs). But there is no problem in giving a ride to a friend or neighbor in need, and if you have a clean driving record, buying a rider to your policy to cover unusual circumstances can be quite cheap. Some insurance companies treat small incidental payments of gas money asthe functional equivalent of a car pool, so it pays to send a note to your agent asking for specifics before jumping to conclusions.
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COMMENT 134702
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2011-01-08 07:13 PM |
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Buy her a big screen TV.
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COMMENT 134704P
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2011-01-08 07:17 PM |
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The amount of snarky, useless or judgmental answers here is disheartening.
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