By Doris Hagen, Senior Resources

There I was behind another older driver going 15 miles per an hour in a 30-mile-an-hour speed zone. My nine-year old grandson said, &uot;Pass him grandma, he’s driving too slow, and we’ll be late for the movie.&uot;

As we all know, our society is in hurry, and many people, even as young as my grandchildren, think older drivers are somewhat incompetent when it comes to driving.

The elderly population in rural Minnesota is undergoing major shifts of demographics according to the Minnesota Planning Perspectives. The Perspective says that 30 percent of the total state population and 41 percent of the population lives in rural counties will be 65 and older by 2025. In Freeborn County the elderly population projection is 23 to 35 percent of its population.

Although older drivers will continue to maintain important links to our community, seniors that must stop driving will risk isolation and depression. I believe the general public has an obligation to support alternative transportation for folks that stop driving because of safety and medical issues. It’s called quality of life.

Ride Services is trying to provide transportation alternatives for seniors living in Freeborn County. The first five months of this year, our volunteer drivers provided 3,800 rides, traveled 25,500 miles and volunteered 30,000 hours.

Our program is forever shifting and changing to fit the needs of our communities. For example, Ride Services was a major factor that made it possible for a husband and wife to move from a nursing home back into their home in rural Freeborn County. Volunteer drivers are giving them rides to medical appointments and personal needs. Once again they are enjoying independence and mobility.

Ride Services volunteers do more than just give rides. Our volunteer drives are well experienced with the trappings of big medical facilities like the Mayo Clinic and VA Hospital. Drivers know how to get escort services, where elevators are, where the best and where cheapest restaurant are located. They provide support and friendship and ask nothing in return. They are angels with wheels; but they alone can’t provide all the affordable transportation cost for the residents of Albert Lea.

Ride Services also subsidizes rides with Albert Lea Transit and AB Taxi Company to find other affordable transportation for our senior community.

I believe that older folks might surrender their driving privileges if more people will volunteer to drive, and if family or friends would suggest alternative transportation options to their loved ones.

With the increase of the older adult population by 2025, our community must support alternative transportation needs. Ride Services will continue to search for new and creative affordable alternative transportation solutions for folks that want to remain mobile and independent.

(Doris Hagen is the transportation manger for Senior Resources.)