VIP Rides
Through a series of focus groups conducted in 2001 the City of Fremont learned that one of the biggest challenges facing local seniors was the lack of reliable transportation. While many seniors were enrolled in local Paratransit services, they were not taking full advantage of it because they were either afraid of traveling alone or they needed an escort to help them get in and out of the vehicles.
In 2004, the VIP Rides Program was initiated at LIFE ElderCare to provide escort assistance to Paratransit riders by fully screened and trained volunteers. Seniors and non-seniors with disabilities, who have no family members or friends to help them, can use this program for travel to medical appointments and/or necessary errands. Volunteers may also use their own vehicle to drive ambulatory seniors or disabled individuals who require door-through-door service. VIP Rides has grown from 19 trips a month in 2004 to 150-175 trips a month in 2010. This program is funded by the Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority through a Measure B Gap Grant.
Volunteers are currently on call to provide the following assistance:
- Push wheelchairs for Paratransit riders.
- Provide a steady arm for riders when walking or climbing stairs or if visually impaired.
- Assist with shopping (selecting items from a shelf, pushing cart, carrying packages.
- Providing directional assistance (reading signs, asking for directions).
Contact
To sign up for services or ask questions about the program, call:
Lori Vogel, VIP Rides Coordinator at (510) 574-2096.
To volunteer as a driver, call:
Tammy Duran, Outreach Coordinator at (510) 574-2086.