Everyday at Senior Services of Alexandria (SSA) the DOT Paratransit Team answers calls from disabled individuals, many of them seniors, who need transportation to get around town. When driving is no longer an option, many seniors struggle to stay independent while “aging in place” without a reliable form of transportation.
The DOT Para-Transit Program is easy to use, providing taxi based services for residents of Alexandria City who find it difficult to use public transportation. It is regulated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, providing curb-to-curb service. SSA manages the DOT Paratransit reservation line seven days a week.
While making a reservation, one of our favorite clients recently told me, “The DOT transportation service is just wonderful. What a blessing it is to me and to the older persons in the City of Alexandria. I don’t like being a bother or burden to my family, neighbors and friends, and this is why DOT transportation helps so much. It takes a burden off my family and everyone else to take me different places. I get where I need to go, and do anything I want and need to do at a good price. I really, really like this program and I am so thankful for it.”
To find out more about the DOT Paratransit program call 703-836-4414, ext. 116, or go to SSA’s website: www.seniorservicesalex.org
The city’s Division of Aging and Adult Services operates several other senior transportation programs for those 60 and over, including group grocery shopping trips and the Senior Taxi Yellow Card Program, which is available to income-eligible seniors. The card may be used for discounted taxi service, and clients schedule their rides directly with Yellow Cab.
The “Door Thru Door” program provides trained escorts to accompany seniors who need assistance getting to medical appointments due to medical or cognitive limitations. Trained health care aides will travel with the individual to non-urgent medical appointments, stay with them during the appointment and travel back home with them. There is currently no charge for the escort, but the cost of transportation is the responsibility of the senior. For more information about Senior Taxi, group grocery shopping, and Door Thru Door, call the city’s Division of Aging and Adult Services at 703-746-5999.
You can learn more about the reliable, economical and accessible Alexandria DASH Bus System by calling 703-746-3274 or at www.dashbus.com. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) operates Metro Access taxi service for seniors and persons with disabilities as well as the Metro and Metrobus services. Their contact information is 202-637-7000 or www.wmata.com.
If you are a senior, or a know of a senior who needs help finding out what the best transportation options might be for them, call SSA at 703-836-4414. We can talk through these various options in more detail and see what works best.