More Than a Ride

Some rides are to dialysis. Some are to the grocery store. Some are to an MRI or a therapy appointment.
And some are to the nail salon.

One of our JFS Transportation clients is 92 years old, and going to her nail salon is still an important part of her routine. Another rarely goes to a doctor’s appointment without his small dog coming along for the ride.

These are small glimpses into what older adult transportation looks like at JFS and why it matters.

Because independence doesn’t have one destination.

For one person, it means making it to a critical medical appointment. For another, it means having groceries in the refrigerator. For someone else, it is attending an ESL class, volunteering, meeting friends for lunch, or keeping an appointment at a favorite salon.

Thanks to the voters and taxpayers of Washtenaw County and their support of the Washtenaw County Older Adult Millage, JFS is able to provide approximately 1,300–1,500 personalized rides for older adults every month. This community investment helps older adults remain independent, connected, and engaged in the lives they have built.

But we don’t think of them simply as rides. We think about the people inside our vehicles.
Recently, a client needed an MRI at St. Joe’s. Her driver arrived, got her there when she needed to be, and was ready to bring her home when the appointment was finished. Later, she sent us a message:
“It was the best trip ever. I was so grateful… Thank you so much to all who made sure I was there.”

Another client contacted us after JFS picked her up from the emergency room:
“I’m so very, very grateful… There have been wonderful people driving, perfect rides.”

And another wrote:
“I am overwhelmed by JFS’s generosity and your personal dedication.”

We receive messages like these often, and there is usually a common theme: our drivers.

Clients tell us about their kindness, patience, and willingness to help. For someone who rides with JFS regularly, seeing a familiar driver pull up can be reassuring. It is someone they recognize, someone who knows where they’re going, and someone who understands they may need a little more time getting into the vehicle or extra help reaching the door.

Approximately 18–20% of our rides are door-through-door, providing additional assistance when it is needed. We also arrange recurring transportation for dialysis, therapy, Silver Club, senior centers, ESL classes, community lunches, and other regular activities. For an older adult, and often for their family or caregiver, that consistency can mean one less thing to worry about.

That trust extends throughout the community. Healthcare providers, senior centers, social workers, community organizations, and families turn to JFS when transportation becomes a barrier to care, independence, or connection.

As demand continues to grow, our team works every day to make the most of the resources entrusted to us. When we cannot provide a ride at the originally requested time, we work to identify another solution, including coordinating with community transportation partners when possible.
Today, JFS maintains a 98% on-time performance rate and 100% client satisfaction rate. We are proud of those numbers, but even prouder of what they represent: older adults getting where they need and want to go.
​
Because sometimes independence looks like getting to an important medical appointment.
And sometimes it looks like freshly painted nails.
At JFS, both matter.