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Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut Awarded
NADTC Equity and Accessibility: Transportation Implementation Grant
For Immediate Release
December 16, 2022
Contact:
Dr. Beverly Kidder
Vice President of Community Programs
bkidder@aoascc.org
The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) has awarded $490,000 in implementation grants to communities in seven states - Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, New Mexico, New York and Oregon to implement innovative projects for equitable and accessible transportation to meet the needs of vulnerable and underserved populations, especially older adults and people with disabilities from diverse communities.
Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut (AOASCC)is one of seven grantees selected from among the nine transportation planning grants funded by NADTC in 2021. To build upon our earlier work, AOASCC was awarded $70,000 to offer a non-emergency medical chaperone support program where trained volunteers accompany older adults and/or people with disabilities from their homes to medical appointments. Chaperones do not drive, instead their sole purpose is help and attend to the client. The program will target the cities of New Haven, West Haven, East Haven, Meriden, and Ansonia but, whenever possible, will help individuals in New Haven county. The program aims to reduce the incidence of missed medical appointments, reduce caregiver burden, and increase the comfort and safety of the clients served.
“The Agency on Aging of South Central CT is pleased and proud to be a recipient of the NADTC grant. This funding will enable us to implement a project that was developed as a result of a transportation planning grant that the Agency received in 2021. That planning process helped us to identify an important transportation need that is presently unmet in our community. Traveling alone to medical appointments for older adults with mobility challenges can be difficult and frequently results in missed medical appointments which in turn results in poorer health outcomes for people. One of the primary social determinants of health outcomes is transportation related experiences. The Trusted Ride Chaperone program provides a reliable companion to travel with an older adult to ensure they can access their medical appointments with greater ease,” said Beverly Kidder, Vice President of Community Programs at the Agency on Aging of South Central CT.
About Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut
The Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut (AOASCC) is an independent non-profit organization providing services and championing older adults and individuals with disabilities so that they remain independent and engaged in their communities. AOASCC provides assistance so individuals can continue living safely at home, support for those caring for their loved ones and opportunities for volunteer engagement.
About the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) is funded through a cooperative agreement of Easterseals, USAging and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, with guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living. NADTC’s mission is to increase accessible transportation options for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers nationwide.