Do you ever wonder how you will get to the grocery store, to the doctor’s office, or just to go and visit with family and friends? For a growing number of older and disabled adults in Tennessee, this is a problem they think about daily.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the older adult population (60 and older) will outnumber the younger adult population (18 and younger) for the first time ever by 2030. When you factor in those who have a disability, the number is even greater. Ensuring there is proper transportation for older adults and those with disabilities is the third largest need in Tennessee, preceded only by health concerns or lack of healthcare and financial resources.
Transportation services are critical to maintaining a high quality of life. To meet this need, the Senior Volunteer Transportation Network (SVTN) was established in 2017 by a 
coalition of stakeholders interested in transportation options for older adults. This coalition was formed out of the SeniorTrust/ElderTrust grant, administered by the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD), and awarded by the Davidson County Chancery Court. This group of individuals represent a network of volunteer transportation programs, state agencies, civic organizations, and other grant award recipients working together to create a network of resources that aid in volunteer recruitment and transportation options.
The SVTN utilizes the 5 As of Senior-Friendly Transportation. Those 5 As are:
AVAILABILITY – transportation exists and is available when needed;
ACCESSIBILITY – transportation can be reached and used when needed;
ACCEPTABILITY – standards are upheld in conditions such as cleanliness, safety, and use friendliness;
AFFORDABILITY – fees are affordable, fees are comparable to or less than driving a car, scholarships, as available, can assist with out-of-pocket expenses; and
ADAPTABILITY – transportation can be modified or adjusted to meet special needs (e.g., canes, walkers, portable oxygen, etc.).
Despite Tennessee’s comprehensive supply of transportation services, unmet transportation needs remain. Identifying the nature of these needs is determined by performing a Needs Assessment. This process is intended as a resource to guide decision-making around the State’s opportunity to increase mobility services. In a needs assessment conducted by the Office of Mobility and Accessible Transportation in 2021, the majority of respondents expressed a need for expanded services, including more varied transportation options, particularly in rural areas. Another overwhelming need identified was for personal assistance. This is needed for individuals who have difficulty navigating a trip on their own. While this level of assistance is not intended for every passenger, it can mean the difference in being able to make it to an individual’s desired destination or the individual having to remain at home.
MyRide TN is a volunteer-assisted transportation service providing a door-through-door transportation option for those who need additional personal assistance and a tailor-made point-to-point trip. The premise of the MyRide program is for one volunteer to assist one rider to an essential appointment. The volunteer driver uses their own vehicle for transportation and will stay with the older adult traveler if they need additional assistance. When the Senior Trust was established in 2017, there were five existing senior volunteer-assisted transportation programs in Tennessee. With the help of grant funding from the Senior Trust and local and state assistance, the MyRide TN program was expanded.
MyRide TN has made a significant impact in countless older adults’ lives across Tennessee. One rider in Bradley County spends her time volunteering with community groups and organizes a prayer group for a local church. “We really enjoy this. Up until MyRide, there wasn’t really anything we went on. I went to the doctor, but other than that I never really went anywhere. I’m proud to get a ride when I need it,” said the 80-year-old rider. Having MyRide TN as an option allows her to continue volunteering in her community and maintain healthy social interaction by providing visits with her friends who live across town that she has not seen in years.
Another highlight of the MyRide TN programs is the amazing volunteers who provide rides. Many of the riders create friendships with the volunteer drivers. Recently, a driver in Southwest Tennessee won a Volunteer of the Year award for his dedication to the older adult population in his area. Mr. Don Hubbard and his service dog, Simon, have been volunteering with the MyRide West TN program since it began in 2017. Mr. Hubbard is very dedicated to ensuring riders are picked up and the older adults can get to their appointments. While the volunteers are only asked to commit to one ride per month, Mr. Hubbard has been known to provide multiple rides a week and sometimes even multiple rides a day. Many riders ask for Mr. Hubbard because he is so dependable and trustworthy. He is also retired from a large grocery store chain, so many riders like for him to take them grocery shopping because “he knows where everything is located”.
There are currently over 20 programs providing more than 35,000 trips, utilizing over 600 volunteers. While these numbers are substantial, the impact these programs have on the lives of older adults across the State is unmatched. Having a service like MyRide across Tennessee is essential to older adults and those with disabilities to remain independent and active in their communities.
To learn more about MyRide TN or other transportation options in your area, please visit TCAD’s website.
About the Author
Keita Cole is the Aging Program Director for the Nutrition program at the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability, and she is also the Statewide Dementia Coordinator. In her current position she oversees the Nutrition program for the entire state of Tennessee including both home-delivered meals and congregate meals. Tennessee has over 200 nutrition sites across 95 counties. Keita also educates and trains others on brain health and dementia to help make Tennessee a more dementia friendly state. With more than 10 years of experience in the aging network, she brings extensive knowledge of healthcare payors, home and community-based services, and aging advocacy to her position.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Keita has a passion for serving others through a person-centered approach that allow independence, choice, and dignity. Keita completed her Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA) credential in April 2021 and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Public Health and a Healthcare Management Certificate from East Tennessee State University.