Village of Groveport

GROVEPORT SENIOR TRANSPORTATION

For information, please call 614.836.7433.

Client Guidelines

Program Purpose: The Groveport Senior Transportation Program will promote the continuation of an independent lifestyle for individuals age 60 and older through the provision of dependable door to door transportation for residents of the Village of Groveport. The program will assist in decreasing clients’ dependence upon family members and friends and increase opportunities for independent mobility.

Days of Service: The Program provides transportation Tuesday through Friday for appointments scheduled between 8 am – 1 pm. Service is not provided on holidays or during weather emergencies. In the event of program cancellation, clients will be notified for rescheduling.

Eligibility:

· Age 60 or older

· Resident of the Village of Groveport (Tax District #185)

· Mentally or physically challenged clients under the age of 60, with proof of disability (e.g. Social Security award letter, physician’s certification, etc.) submitted at time of application. Recertification of disability will be submitted by the client upon request.

· Any client requiring assistance beyond the scope of the program must be accompanied by a caregiver (a person 18 years or older arranged by the client, picked up with the client and with the appropriate capacity to aid the client) or Senior Companion (a volunteer 18 years or older arranged by the program with the appropriate capacity to aid the client.)

Service Area and Frequency:

Health and Wellness - Transportation will be provided for health and wellness appointments (e.g. under the care or direction of a physician or licensed health practitioner) within Franklin County, and limited to 3 appointments per calendar week. Exceptions may be authorized for medical services which normally have a limited term, e.g. therapy. Transportation to medical centers immediately adjacent to Franklin County, e.g. Tri-County Medical Center and portions of the Hill Road area of Pickerington, will be considered. Clients will be encouraged to select health and wellness services within southeast Franklin County.

Personal: Transportation will be provided for one personal appointment per calendar week. Boundaries for personal appointments are Broad Street to the north, High Street to the west, and the Franklin County lines to the south and east. The Senior Transportation Program reserves the right to limit service for personal appointments.

Multiple Appointments: The program staff will make efforts to accommodate multiple medical appointments on a case-by-case basis. Clients should make a point to arrange these as early in the day as possible. Multiple personal appointments will only be accommodated within the Village of Groveport and in the retail area of Gender Road between Groveport Road and SR 33 and only as scheduling permits.
Service Type: Priority will be given to health and wellness appointments. The Groveport Senior Transportation Program is offered on a door to door basis. Access to the client’s private dwelling will only be permitted with pre-approval by the program coordinator and only with a minimum of two staff persons present. Limited through-the-door service will be provided as needed for a client requiring assistance into a doctor’s office or other public space.

Guidelines: The following guidelines apply to all clients:

1. The Senior Transportation Program has been developed to provide assistance for scheduled appointments and is not designed to respond to emergency calls. In an emergency situation, call 911.

2. Any relevant current medical condition must be communicated upon application to the program, as well as to the driver or scheduler (e.g. anxiety, seizures, pain, confusion, etc.)

3. A screening will be conducted by program staff prior to acceptance in the program. This meeting will be used to collect client information, emergency contact information, identify any barriers or limitations to safe transportation, communicate the program guidelines and answer any questions the client, caregiver or family member may have. A photograph of the client will be taken at this time.

4. Clients are asked to transport themselves to and from the vehicle without the driver’s assistance. If the client requests or the driver identifies conditions (weather, sidewalk construction, temporary health conditions, etc.) when the client would be best served by assistance between their dwelling or destination and the vehicle, the driver will offer such assistance. The driver will exercise personal safety at all times.

5. Any client requiring assistance beyond the scope of this program must be accompanied by a caregiver (a person 18 years or older arranged by the client, picked-up with the client and with the appropriate capacity to aid the client) or a Senior Companion (a volunteer 18 years or older arranged by the program with the appropriate capacity to aid the client.) The caregiver will assume responsibility for assisting the client to and from the vehicle, up and down steps, opening doors, etc. Caregivers will be required to read, understand and sign these guidelines before being transported with the client. The caregiver’s name will be provided when the appointment is made. Multiple caregivers may be selected, with only one caregiver assisting per transport.

6. All persons within a program vehicle will wear seat belts and be safely secured at all times.

7. Wheelchairs and mobility devices must be of a size, design and condition (including state of repair and cleanliness) that can be safely transported as determined by the program staff.

8. Combative or seriously ill persons will not be transported. A client whose behavior, language or personal hygiene poses a health risk or negatively impacts other clients or staff will be advised that they may not be eligible to remain in the program. The driver and program coordinator retains the authority to exercise this decision.

9. The Senior Transportation Staff will not normally make unscheduled stops.

10. Shopping and other trips that are not dependent upon a specific appointment time will be considered flexible.

11. Standing appointments for health and wellness will be accepted. Personal standing appointments will not be accepted.

12. The client’s destination appointment time must fall within the hours of 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM, with return transportation by 5 PM. Clients will not be transported to their destination outside of these hours without pre-approval of the coordinator. Clients are encouraged to contact the Transportation Office between the hours of 8:00AM and 1:00PM to schedule transportation.

13. One-way transportation may be permitted and should be specified by the client at the time the reservation is made.

14. The client must request transportation no later than by noon, two business days and no more than three months prior to the appointment. The program staff reserves the right to close or limit appointments based on the needs of the program.

15. A change of destination address or appointment time may not be accepted after noon, two business days prior to the appointment.

16. Cancellations may occur at any time. The program staff requests notification as soon as possible if a cancellation is unavoidable. Repeated cancellations may result in termination of services.

17. The client will provide the following information when requesting transportation: appointment time, destination name, destination address, destination telephone number, first and last name.

18. Program staff will call to confirm all non-standing appointments the day before the appointment. It is the client’s responsibility to confirm the appointment with the Senior Transportation office before noon the day prior to the appointment if he or she cannot be reached by telephone. Non-standing appointments that fail to be confirmed may be cancelled.

19. The client will be ready (watching for and able to be in the vehicle within 3-5 minutes) for the arrival of a vehicle one hour prior to the appointment time given program staff.

20. The client will contact the Senior Transportation Office at the conclusion of the appointment to arrange for return transportation. The estimated time for return transportation pick-up will be given to the client at that time. It is the intention of the program staff that all clients will be picked up in less than one hour from the time of the call. The pick-up driver may not be the same as the drop-off driver, but will return to the drop-off location for pick-up. If for any reason the client will not require return transportation, or the location for pick-up must be changed, the Transportation Office will be notified immediately.

21. The program coordinator will assume daily responsibility for the administration and delivery of service. The position reports to the Community Affairs Director who reports to the Village Administrator.

Should conditions exist which negatively impact client, driver or public safety, the Groveport – Madison Township Senior Transportation Program reserves the right to deny service.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RISKS, LIABILITY RELEASE
AND INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

I agree to assume any risks inherent in participating in Village-sponsored activities and programs.

I agree to follow all facility, activity or program rules and regulations, and realize that my right to participate may be terminated by the Village for not adhering to said rules and regulations.

I grant the right to use my photograph for Village promotions.

I agree to hold harmless and release the Village of Groveport, its boards and council, officers, officials, employees, volunteers and other representatives from all claims for liability or legal responsibility for any damage or loss of any kind, including personal property or death, property damage, and economic loss, arising from my participation in and/or use of the Groveport-Madison Township Senior Transportation Program, Village of Groveport Recreation Center, Aquatic Center, Town Hall and/or any other facility, activity or program of the Village of Groveport.