Digital Healthcare Services – Elevating Telehealth Innovation in Rural Communities

Transportation and access to health providers both at the right time have become crucial for patients today. When it comes to senior transportation services, older adults experience several drawbacks and barriers. With age, the senior population reduces their frequency of driving, completely stops driving, or they lack proper availability of transportation for their non-medical needs. Hence, they require to rely on public transportation, assistance from family and caregivers when they require transportation services.

Senior citizens face many physical challenges, functional and cognitive impairments, and have one or more chronic conditions that impact the ability to drive or avail public transportation. This lack of transportation availability greatly impacts the health and well-being causing older adults to miss their doctor’s appointments, cancel in-clinic visits, inability purchase groceries, food, and medication, etc. For seniors residing in rural communities or underserved locations, these challenges are paramountly severe. According to research, the 65 years and older population comprised

17.5%⁠

residing in rural areas compared to the 13.8% seniors reading in urban locations. The senior population in rural communities face difficulties in reaching their appointments, problems with social contact, lack of community resources and limited shopping spaces, and fewer activities when there are transportation and healthcare access issues.

NEMT services are tailored in a way that helps with senior transportation services, assisting them to run errands and with several other activities that are necessary to improve access to health care. Non-emergency medical transportation helps seniors to regain their independence in living.

Let’s understand the significance of senior transportation services.

Significance of Senior Transportation Services

Transportation and healthcare access are crucial for maintaining the quality and level of health and well-being of older adults. The availability of non-emergency medical transportation services potentially reduces the negative impact of health outcomes. By facilitating NEMT services, the senior population gains access to on-time appointment visits for medical follow-ups, enhances access to prescription medication requirements, and boosts therapy-related sessions participation.

Seniors residing in rural communities, as mentioned previously, face many unique transportation barriers when it comes to accessing healthcare-related services, medical and urgent care services, meal delivery, and other social determinants of health features. Hence, impacting them and their chronic conditions. These can deeply impact their social interactions and increase social isolation at great lengths. NEMT services aim to achieve better older adult transportation in both urban and rural areas for enhancing health and well-being outcomes for seniors.

Non-emergency medical transportation and volunteer programs aiming to provide transportation services can improve senior health and well-being significantly. With door-to-door services, passengers who have scheduled their transportation can have assistance to get in and out of their homes and into the cars, or have volunteers who stay with them throughout the entire ordeal.

Benefits of Senior Transportation Services

NEMT services have indefinitely improved the way seniors and older adults can avail transportation services. The benefits of senior care transportation services include:

Sense of independence and freedom

We know that with age day-to-day tasks can become quite a hassle. With seniors, a quick trip to the corner stores can also be deemed difficult. NEMT provides an opportunity for these seniors to still have their sense of freedom and independence. It provides them with personal space, comfort, and convenience instead of relying on public transportation. Thus, offering a chance to improve access to health care services.