Problem: Funding has been exhausted sooner than anticipated due to the overwhelming transportation need. Our elderly, disabled and underserved Veterans will soon be without transportation support to medical and other necessary appointments. (Note: these veterans are not able to arrange transportation on their own due to multiple health issues, mental emotional challenges, lack of basic technology, and more).
Background: The Northern Virginia Region has long experienced gaps in providing services to disabled, underserved, and elderly Veterans. The Northern Virginia Veterans Association (NOVA Veterans) took on the cry for help when hundreds of local Veterans were suffering in place without transportation to their healthcare appointments. In 2021, NOVA Veterans partnered with the Dulles Area Transportation Association (DATA) to create a Proof of Concept transportation program and obtained federal grant funding under the Federal Transit Administration’s allocation in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA), by the National Capitol Region Transportation Planning Board. The proof of concept proved a success!
Proof of Concept Metrics: NOVA Veterans has provided over 1500 rides for Veterans who are elderly, disabled and unable to find or afford rides on their own. Currently, NOVA Veterans is averaging 200 rides per month costing an average of $100 per taxi ride. These rides are for healthcare appointments to VA hospitals, Community Based Outpatient Clinics, and local Community Care clinics. Ride requests include, on-going critical needs like dialysis; urgent appointments such as pre/post-surgery; and some for routine but necessary appointments like vision, dental, hearing, and primary/preventive care.
Costs: As of October 2022, NOVA Veterans is averaging over 200 rides per month, and without further funding, they have no way to continue providing rides and caring for these veterans who are now reaching out on a daily basis needing transportation and support. It costs approximately $10,000 a month to run this program, and the need is growing. Any donation amount $10 or $1000 will go directly into continuing this program.
Air Force Veteran Arthur had struggled with finding reliable and no-cost rides to his multiple on-going medical appointments at the DC VA. Arthur explains, “without the taxis and without the organization I don’t know how I’d really get there. Now that I have the way to get there from the Northern Virginia Veterans, you know I just call them and let them know when I need to go and they let me know when the taxi is going to be there, it’s been a big help.”
NOVA Veterans President and CEO Angela McConnell explains that 2019 U.S. Census data showed the projected service area for that proof of concept program included over 142,000 retired military, and within the 65 and older populations, more than 26% are disabled. McConnell added, NOVA Veterans Association’s targeted veterans are almost exclusively those veterans who are underserved, low income, disabled and/or elderly.
Impact: The lack of transportation services for veterans to and from healthcare appointments at both Veteran Administration (VA) and civilian clinics detrimentally affect the veterans and their families. These veterans who are seeking on-going routine and urgent medical care are worrying about not being able to get to their providers, which heightens anxiety and stress for all involved. Those involved include, the veteran and others in their household such as spouse/family/caregiver; adult children and family members who are not local and cannot reasonably help; and healthcare providers who want to establish appointments and adequately care for their patients, but do not have feasible transportation resources to offer. Not to mention, the greater Northern Virginia community who, on the upside, benefit as a whole to have their elderly and disabled cared for and healthy. When veterans do not have access to healthcare, their once manageable medical conditions can become critical. So they either use the emergency room due to their exacerbated medical conditions, which comes with exorbitant hospital costs, or they suffer in silence. Both of which have a huge negative impact on our health system/economy/society but more importantly tragically devastates our elderly, disabled and underserved veterans.
Veterans who have found and now use NOVA Veterans transportation program have a huge burden lifted from their life. Veterans can call anytime to confirm a ride or talk with a Support Services person about any special need or accommodations. Trusting relationships are developed between our Veterans and the NOVA Veterans Support Services team, which is such an essential component to care for this population. NOVA Veterans must ensure on-going communications and coordination across multiple parties on behalf of the veteran, such as VA counselors, doctor’s offices, caregivers, and the Red Top taxi company.
A recent RAND study states, the largest number of veterans who die by suicide are between 55 and 74 years old. The immediate negative mental and emotional effects from not having dependable access to healthcare range from anxiety and frustration around not being able to get basic needs met, to fear of becoming sicker and possibly dying leaving them feeling depressed and hopeless.
Ramchand, Rajeev. “Suicide Among Veterans: Veterans’ Issues in Focus.” Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2021. Retrieved May 2022. https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA1363-1.html .
Solution: NOVA Veterans has proven the transportation proof of concept and are geared up and equipped to support the Veteran and caregiver in making and coordinating the appropriate transportation to pick up and bring home the veteran. Understanding all the nuanced and specific requirements of each veteran helps with coordinating transportation services that can accommodate. Accessible, safe, responsive, and reliable transportation continues to be a critical need for older and underserved veterans and veterans with disabilities. And we need your support NOW to sustain the program. Donate Here. https://novavets.org/donate/
Or, mail check to the Northern Virginia Veterans Association P.O. Box 10253, Manassas VA 20108.
