Senior citizens have the same needs as other people of the community but often lack the means to satisfy those needs.  Many older Americans lose their ability or desire to operate a motor vehicle because of their advancing age and the difficulties resulting from that process.  This loss of mobility is often the single most limiting factor in the preservation of independence that older Americans wish to maintain.  No one wants to burden someone else with their own problems unless they have no other choice.

 

The Raleigh County Commission on Aging, Inc. provides transportation to senior citizens residing within the county.  We employ 6 and 15 passenger vans as well as a 25 passenger bus to transport the older Americans of our county.  We also utilize a wheel chair lift equipped van to transport those seniors who experience limited personal mobility.

 

Our daily routes embark passengers at their homes and deliver them to our Multi-Purpose Center, currently located on City Avenue in Beckley.  Other destinations include the various shopping malls within the county as well as monthly excursions out of county sites.  Special purpose trips (e.g. Legislative Sessions in Charleston, Senior Rallies, the WV State Fair, etc.) are conducted on an annual basis.  Most trips within the county incur no fee; however we are grateful to accept donations from the passengers when offered.  Trips outside the county are charged a small fee but guaranty a round trip.

 

Work days are Monday through Friday except for Federal holidays from 8AM to 4PM.  Areas covered by our vehicles are Beaver, Daniels, Shady Spring, Cool Ridge, Ghent, Mabscott, Crab Orchard, Sophia, Stanaford, Pine Knob, Glen Daniel, Naoma, and Eccles among others.  We do not cover each area every day; instead our vehicles are concentrated in specific areas on specific days.  Due to lighter demand or distance we only cover some areas every other week.

 

An additional transportation service provided by our agency is Medical Transportation.  We transport seniors for medically necessary trips to doctor’s offices and clinics throughout the county and outside of the county if necessary.  We do charge fares for medical transportation services and must limit passenger types to only those who can be safely transported without requiring an ambulance.  We do bill Medicaid for those passengers who qualify and use sliding fee scales for other qualifying passengers when possible.

 

For more information regarding Transportation Services, contact Danny Simmons, Transportation Coordinator.