Older Driver Programs

 

MARC (Mid America Regional Council) Special Transportation Advisory Committee / Job Access Partnership here

Special Transportation–Job Access Partnership (ST–JAP) serves as a forum through which committee members can keep abreast of matters relating to programs and mobility needs for populations underserved by traditional forms of transit. These include the elderly, disabled and low-income populations. The committee also makes suggestions and recommendations to appropriate service providers to ensure that transportation programs respond adequately to the unique needs of the elderly and disabled.

NEXT MEETING: TBD , at 9:00 a.m., MARC offices, Board Room

STAC JARC MEETING NOTES

Mr. Goodcents Foundation for Senior Mobility here

The Mr. Goodcents Foundation is working with communities so people can age with the freedom to live. Join us in the journey to give the freedom to enjoy life to our parents and grandparents.

 

Mr. Goodcents Foundation

" Good NEWS REPORT ON SENIOR MOBILITY"

Below you will find the text for the June 2009 'Good News Report for Senior Mobility"

The 'Good News' reflects how together we make a difference.  Please share the 'Good News' and invite others to help people age with the freedom to enjoy life!

‘Good News Report’   JUNE 2009                                       

From the Executive Director: Aging is universal. Everyone is aging. The challenge, ‘How will we age?’ To age well, people need access to basic needs: food, shelter, clothing, health care; economic needs: jobs, civic engagement, education; and spiritual needs: religion, entertainment, arts. Mobility is the infrastructure connecting people and needs. Look at your neighborhood mobility infrastructure: Do you have sidewalks? Are sidewalks in good repair? Do sidewalks connect to needs? Do you have pedestrian crosswalks? Are there barriers like busy streets or parking lots that make walking or biking less safe? Are street signs easy to read? If a person cannot drive, are there alternatives? If your neighborhood mobility infrastructure is low, will your future include a move that isn’t your choice or will you be able to age in place? If you want to age in place what must happen? These are a few of the questions to solve for seniors to age well.

                                                    

‘Good Work’                         

Seeing others expand your work.  The greatest compliment is having others seek to expand your efforts. Recently, a team from the Kansas City Region attended a conference on Senior Transportation in Washington, DC sponsored by Easter Seals. The team is seeking to expand one key element of the KC-Framework for Sr. Mobility – volunteer mobility programs. Seeing the Framework help others engage communities and organizations in the effort to create communities without barriers to senior mobility is a wonderful outcome. The Kansas City team represents the Alliance on Aging, Mid-America Regional Council, Jewish Family Services and KU Medical Center. Thank you for the ‘good work’ to create greater mobility for seniors.     

                                                       

  ‘Good Things for Today and Tomorrow!

                                               

Communities without barriers to mobility for seniors can happen, if we make good things happen. Some efforts impact today like the Foundation supporting sustainable community mobility solutions (community shuttles and volunteer programs) for seniors. Some efforts impact tomorrow like the Foundation actively engaging communities in processes that seek to improve neighborhood and regional mobility infrastructure through improved community design. The Foundation is excited about the opportunities for our journey is about doing good things in both the short and long-term to improve how we age.

                                      

 ‘Good Cause’                 

Just a few short years ago… In 2002, the Mr. Goodcents Foundation was unknown and had to work to find good investments creating greater mobility for seniors. Success has brought new challenges… people from many parts of the country are seeking information and support. Growth is exciting. This year, we have grants seeking to sustain good programs and start new ones… but our grant requests exceed our funding capacity by about $30,000. Nothing is harder than having to tell good people we don’t have enough… We know ‘there isn’t enough’ causes a senior to be stranded at home. But we believe the public has the power to make ‘good causes’ successful. Your help may be the connection to public support that allows us to say – ‘There is enough!'    

 

‘Being Good Stewards’ 

How can you help? 1) Share the 'Good News' and invite people to join the effort to create greater senior mobility.  2) Encourage your community to establish senior mobility as a priority!  3) Volunteer to help create and serve on your community's ‘Good Team’ to identify senior mobility needs and find solutions! 4) Financial support is critical for without support the Foundation does not exist to help communities be free of barriers to senior mobility. Please visit our website: www.mrgoodcentsfoundation.org; help us raise public awareness of our good steward efforts; and please help us meet the demands to create better mobility solutions today and improve our tomorrows! 

 

Footnote: Ever notice that as we age the years seem to get shorter?  Will we age better because of what we do? Or regret what we could have done? Please help make the dream of ‘aging well’ possible.

                                 

Contact Mr. Goodcents Foundation: jcourtney@mrgoodcents.com.

 

"Together we create Senior Mobility - the freedom to live & enjoy life!"