No shows and Drive to Care

Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly extends friendship to elderly neighbors through it’s Drive to Care program. (Photo courtesy of LBFE)
- Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly extends friendship to elderly neighbors through it’s Drive to Care program. (Photo courtesy of LBFE)
- Leslie Bek, program manager, Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly – Upper Michigan chapter
Another scenario, you call to cancel your appointment. Greater than 24 hours prior to? Not so bad. Less than 24 hours, you might be in the penalty box.
What is a common barrier in these instances for elderly people not getting to their medical appointments?
The quick and easy answer is lack of what is called Non-Emergent Medical Transportation or NEMT. The solution is not so easy. Let me build a profile of the situation I am referring to and then offer solutions.
An elderly gentleman, Joe, lives independently. His family does not live locally, and friendships have diminished over time. Joe requires regular check-up appointments with his physician. Add additional appointments that may be scheduled for lab work, imaging or physical therapy in other locations.

Joe has little appointment cards which are a bit hard to read in small print. They land amongst papers on the kitchen table. What are his options for getting there? His neighbor took him the last time and Joe doesn’t want to ask again. He doesn’t want to ask anyone for help. His independence is challenged, and he fights against the reality that he no longer can drive.
There are options for Joe if he can be his own transportation coordinator. In Marquette County there is Marq-Tran. A bus option with discounted rates for seniors, door to door, and wheelchair accessible service.
Within a set timeframe, Joe will need to call Marq-Tran and request his ride. The return trip home could include a pick-up of over an hour or more delay. Will he miss his noon meal and the medications he takes at that time? Stressful. Not a taxi but an affordable option.
In the Marquette area there is a taxi service. Suffice it to say taxi fees are in the luxury category for Joe. One time, maybe, but not sustainable.
The NEMT appointments are things that he needs to take care of if he continues to live independently. He knows this and it weighs on him. Test results, recommendations, further limitations, and more.

Leslie Bek, program manager, Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly - Upper Michigan chapter
Who knew that complying with your health care appointment plans could be so burdensome?
Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly has been providing NEMT as a core service in Houghton and Keweenaw Counties for over 40 years. Over time services expanded to Baraga, Ontonagon, and most recently Marquette Counties. First identified as a need in very rural, isolated areas, that landscape has changed in size and scope. An older neighbor down the street needs a ride less than two miles away. Isolation is not calculated in distance.
Today the LBFE NEMT program is called “Drive to Care”. A volunteer driver-based service available at no charge. Eligibility requirements include over 60 years and provide five days’ advanced notice. Mileage reimbursement as an option for the driver. Drive to Care also offers the driver an option to use an agency vehicle.
A uniqueness of the Drive to Care service is the component called “door through door”. Central to the LBFE mission is the provision of friendship to lonely, isolated older neighbors. This mission is evidenced by the provision of friendship during the ride to the appointment. Joe will be met at his door and accompanied through the door for the appointment.
He will have a friend to chat with along the way and a listening ear.
Drive to Care is a service offered “based on the capacity to serve”. In straight talk that means “Our number of volunteers directly impacts our ability to meet the need”. Need is the key word. We need volunteers so we can meet the needs. It is really that simple. It really can also be that hard.
For the time it has taken you to read this scenario, I hope you have begun to think about how you might help older neighbors eliminate No Shows. Will you share this information with someone who needs Drive to Care or with someone who might become a volunteer driver? Will you consider becoming a volunteer driver?
Many of your elderly neighbors are in the passenger seat time of their life. They need you to drive them to care. Thank you.
For more information about LBFE Drive to Care visit lbfe.michigan.org, call 906-482-6944. Additional NEMT providers call Upper Peninsula 2-1-1 a health and human services resource Call Center.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Leslie Bek is program manager for the Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly, Upper Michigan chapter in Marquette County. Contact leslie.bek@littlebrothers.org; 906-273-2575. LBFE Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, Ontonagon Counties Hancock Administration office 906-482-6944.