Senior Access looking for number of free rides to bounce back from COVID decline
With the COVID-19 threat level lowered, Senior Access is looking to get ridership levels back up to pre-pandemic levels.
The program is a free transportation service for people 60 and older in the Round Rock, Pflugerville, Hutto, Manor and East Austin areas. The nonprofit started in 1993, focusing in the Round Rock area.
To help seniors socialize and get out of the house, Senior Access provides free transportation to doctor's appointments, beauty shops, grocery stores or anywhere clients want to go, including day activities such as bingo games. It is dedicated to helping senior citizens stay independent as long as possible, said Serita Lacasse, its executive director.
The nonprofit had to suspend its van rides when the pandemic began in March 2020. It resumed service on Sept. 1 of that year.
Ridership in 2020 dropped to 5,000 rides, down from 17,000 the year before. Last year Senior Access provided just under 10,000 rides and this year Lacasse said it expects that number to increase to 14,000.
During the pandemic, the program installed plexiglass shields in its vans and began checking temperatures, providing hand-sanitizer, requiring masks and limiting ridership to seven passengers, LaCasse said.
The program is still requiring masks due to the vulnerability of seniors. It currently has 564 volunteers but continues to look for more.
"During the pandemic people wanted to help," LaCasse said.
According to its website, Senior Accessis funded through donations from the St. David's Foundation, the Carl and Mary Jo Anderson Foundation, the United Heritage Credit Union, the St David's Round Rock Medical and the city of Pflugerville.
In another sign of a return to normalcy, Senior Access on April 8 hosted its monthly Grand Adults Day for the first time in two years at the Pflugerville United Methodist Church. At the event, clients are were able to socialize with each other and play games.
LaCasse said her favorite part of the program is seeing the friendships the clients make with each other since they are stuck at home and rarely have the chance to meet anyone new.
“They pass each other’s contact information around so that they can call each other during the week,” LaCasse said. “We’re giving them a chance to get out and do things and stay connected to their community.”
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During the pandemic, Senior Accesscreated its Senior Buddy program, where clients could have a volunteer pick up groceries for them to ensure they remained safe.
Sean Newell, a 55-year-old volunteer with Senior Access says, it is great to be able to give to the community. During the pandemic, he became a Senior Buddy with 65-year-old Kevin Haley, who has mobility issues.
Newell said that when they met, they were able to bond over their shared military experiences. Newell says it has been great to build a relationship with Haley and be able to help him with everyday things that Haley cannot do by himself.
Haley said he appreciates having access to a service that provides opportunities to get out of the house and socialize.
"For seniors that have (mobility issues), contact with other folks is just huge," Haley said. "Sometimes contact with people that have similar issues as yourself mean the most."
MORE: Road work begins Wednesday on Pflugerville's Grand Avenue Parkway
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Senior Access looking for number of free rides to bounce back from COVID decline
