Nelson CARES launches West Kootenay Seniors Transportation Coordinator

A new program of the Age Friendly Community Initiative kicked off January 19th at 709 Vernon Street in Nelson. Dana Burgess, the new Seniors Transportation Coordinator is helping seniors figure out how to use the network of transportation services available in the West Kootenays. She works with seniors one-on-one to connect them to the services that work best for them to get around the region, whether to medical appointments, grocery shopping or social events and recreational activities. Some of the services offered include individualized transit trip planning, help applying for HandyDART, and information about other transportation options like volunteer drivers and Kootenay Rideshare.

Seniors can drop in and talk to the Seniors Transportation Coordinator at the Nelson location on Tuesdays and Thursday from 10 am to 1:30 pm or Wednesdays from 10 am to 3:30 pm. On Fridays Dana will be travelling throughout the region visiting seniors in their communities. Seniors can also call 250.352.2708, extension 10 to make an appointment during regular office hours (appointments available at other times by request) or to ask for a home visit. The program also welcomes seniors’ family members and caregivers, as well as health and community service providers, who wish to call for information or attend appointments with seniors.

The West Kootenay Seniors Transportation Coordinator is part of the Age Friendly Community Initiative’s Moving Together Project and came about through a broad community collaboration that included Nelson CARES, Connected Communities, Kootenay Rideshare, Kootenay Carshare, West Kootenay Volunteer Driver Program, North Kootenay Lake Community Services, West Kootenay Regional Transit, City of Nelson, Regional District of Central Kootenays, and Interior Health, as well as individual seniors and seniors branches from throughout the region.

The project is funded by Vancouver Foundation, Columbia Basin Trust, Osprey Community Foundation, Regional District of Central Kootenays (West Kootenay Transit Committee and RDCK Areas E and H) and BC Association of Community Response Networks.