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SANTA ANA, Calif., May 7, 2002– The County of
Orange, Office on Aging in collaboration with
the Health Care Agency and Orange County Transportation
Authority will submit a plan on Tuesday, May 7
to the Board of Supervisors for improved access
to transportation services for Orange County seniors.
The plan establishes a blueprint for providing
Orange County seniors increased access to transportation
services for medical (non-emergency) trips as
a result of $3 million in Tobacco Settlement Revenue
to support transportation services.
According to a recent Condition
of Older Adults Report released by the Office on Aging, the need for an
expanded transportation system for Orange County seniors is critical. Orange
County seniors need some kind of transportation assistance to complete everyday
activities including regular medical trips. The Report identifies an unmet need
of nearly 462,000 trips annually by frail individuals who require extra
assistance or by low-income individuals who cannot afford taxi fares.
“Older adults, especially the most needy and frail, critically need special
transportation services”, said Pamela Mokler, executive director, Office on
Aging. Under Mokler’s direction, the Office on Aging’s Information and
Assistance call center, which currently plays a critical role in the
dissemination of transportation information, will be enhanced. Seniors may call
the (800) 510-2020 information line where a specialist will connect them to the
appropriate transportation resource in their area. Resources currently
available to seniors include the Senior Mobility Program; ACCESS, an Orange
County Transportation Authority program, and other avenues such as a taxi or
van service.
Orange County Chief Executive Officer, Michael Schumacher, Ph.D. stressed the
importance of this program. “The county has had the opportunity to make a
difference in the lives of seniors and we are all very proud and excited to
take part in returning people to their active lives.”
The Office on Aging will be releasing at least two RFP proposals, one will be
for a pilot Volunteer Mileage Reimbursement program, adapted from Riverside
County’s TRRP program which offers mileage reimbursement to non-family
volunteer drivers for non-emergency medical trips adapted after Riverside
County’s TRRP program for up to $500,000, and the other RFP is for seed money
to fund existing and new innovative programs. The RFP will be released in June
and awarded in September.
The Tobacco Settlement Revenue is not expected to meet all of the county’s
needs. “By establishing and monitoring the most effective pilot programs, we
will maximize and leverage this initial seed money in order generate further
interest and funding for future expansion,” said Mokler.
The Office on Aging provides resources to nearly 400,000 seniors throughout the
county and offers information and assistance to seniors through it’s state of
the art call center at 1(800) 510-2020. For more information, contact Janice
Parks, Manager, Public Information at (714) 834-6896.
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