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Julia doesn’t like to think what her life would be like if she didn’t have CICOA’s Way2Go transportation service. Julia, 73, not only is concerned about taking care of her own needs, but she also cares for her 75-year-old brother. Thanks to the transportation assistance, she’s able to get to their doctor appointments, the grocery store and run other errands.
She started taking Way2Go in 2014, when her 14-year-old car quit running, and she couldn’t afford another vehicle. Her brother has medical appointments he needed to get to, and she knew she couldn’t continue to rely on friends and family. A hospital social worker referred her to CICOA.
“It’s really been a blessing for me,” Julia said.
In 2015, she had to have open heart surgery and now does cardiac rehabilitation, so she relies on the transportation even more.
While she has friends who will help when they can, and her granddaughter picks up groceries for her, Julia said she and her brother would be homebound without Way2Go.
A recent CICOA community assessment survey found that one-third of Marion County residents 60 and older reported some problem with finding safe and available transportation.
Way2Go provides thousands of trips monthly for older adults and those with disabilities who don’t have access to a car and who aren’t able to use public transportation. The need for transportation is great, especially for seniors, who often say it’s a real challenge staying independent once they no longer can drive.
When people like Julia have safe, accessible transportation and assistance programs, such as CICOA’S Way2Go service, they not only can get to where they need to go, but also can maintain their independence and continue to be engaged in the community. Without it? Julia doesn’t want to think about how she would manage.
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