In a city that is so spread out, transportation is a necessity. That’s why San Diego is rife with city transportation, like the metro system and plenty of taxi companies. But what happens when the taxi fares add up and it gets physically impossible to step into a city bus? Is it time to succumb to isolation at home?
This is an issue being faced by seniors all over the city, many of whom reside in the spacious communities of University City and La Jolla. However, the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center (JCC) has established a solution with its pilot transportation program for seniors. Candidates who qualify will receive assistance with transportation to and from the JCC.
“While this is only a small-scale alternative, we had to start somewhere,” said Melanie Rubin of the JCC’s Seniors and Adults Service Department.
It all started with an anonymous donor and caring relative of one of the seniors who participates regularly at the JCC.
“He came to me simply saying that he wanted to donate a great sum of money to help out with senior transportation,” Rubin said. “But we needed to come up with parameters.”
Rubin and her colleagues drafted a budget and specific qualifications to implement a reliable, yet cost-efficient system to get seniors to and from the JCC. However, instead of deciding on a specific dollar amount, the anonymous donor suggested just sending him the bills, said Rubin, who referred to him as “an angel.”
“If they can’t get anywhere, they are forced to stay isolated at home, which often leads to loneliness or further hindering physical disabilities,” she said. “With this program, we are trying to change those routines by giving seniors access to the JCC.”
The 97,000-square-foot JCC, 4126 Executive Drive, is complete with a giant swimming pool, a 500-seat theatre, and an exercise facility and fitness center that provides the opportunity for seniors to be active in a positive social, cultural and recreational environment. Also included are films, lectures on relevant issues, bridge clubs and art, opera and piano classes.
“Many seniors live alone, and sometimes don’t have any family nearby,” Rubin said. “By participating at the center, they have the option to spend valuable time and Jewish holidays with their friends and peers that they meet through our many activities.”
There are three deciding factors that qualify seniors for the pilot transportation program: low income ($40,000 and under annually); residence within a 10-mile radius of the JCC; and no other means of transportation.
Qualified candidates will receive enough Yellowcab taxi vouchers to visit the JCC twice each week. The voucher, however, does not include gratuity, and seniors must make their own pick-up and drop-off arrangements.
The option is also available to apply for the Metropolitan Transit Systems’ Handicap Accessible vouchers. MTS maintains its own eligibility standards, so seniors interested in this option must apply through MTS. If qualified, the JCC can then provide seniors with the appropriate passes.
“We know that seniors need more assistance with transportation than just to and from the JCC,” Rubin said. “They need to get to the grocery store, and it is risky to stand in the heat and wait for a bus. I would love to be able to help them, but we just don’t have the means for all of that yet. Maybe there are more anonymous angels out there.”
But for now, this is a start.