ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED

Transportation is a major problem for many frail, older adults and disabled people in Orange County.

Based on 1987 projections by the Department of Finance, adults 60 and older will represent 314,207 of Orange County’s 2,193,614 total population. In 1987-88, 52,420 elderly residents would be living alone. In 1978, the California Disability Survey reported the county’s population at 1,191,000. Disabled individuals 16 to 64 years old represented 98,000, or 8.2%, and severely disabled people made up 67,000, or 5.6%, of the total population.

Eight years later, a countywide needs assessment survey conducted by United Way of Orange County estimated the disabled (including physical, emotional, sensory or developmental problems) at 300,000, or 17%, of the county’s 2,193,614 total population.

Jane Mortimer, board member of Sally’s Fund, a public nonprofit organization, describes the typical frail elderly adult living in Laguna Beach as “an 80-year-old widowed female suffering from arthritis and having visual and heart problems, who lives alone on a very limited budget or Social Security.”

Peggy Weatherspoon, director of the Area Agency of Aging, says: “Nationally, 8% of all older adults are frail, homebound and in need of assistance. Using that norm, we have 25,137 homebound older adults that are completely shut in.”

Countywide Transportation Services:

“DRIVE TO WIN” American Cancer Society

Orange County 1503 S. Coast Drive, Costa Mesa

(714) 751-0441

A volunteer program providing free transportation to cancer patients for treatment and medical appointments at Orange County hospitals. Service is limited to residents and locations within county boundaries and is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Requests 48-hour advance notice.

Magic Carpet

1202 W. Shelly Court, Orange

(714) 771-3555

Countywide transportation service for Medical Cal and private passengers. Medical Cal clients are restricted to transportation for medical appointments only and must request service a week in advance. However, private passengers giving a day’s notice can be taken to shopping centers, medical appointments and personal errands for a base fee of $45 round trip plus $1.50 per mile. All vans are equipped to accommodate wheelchairs. Transportation is available Monday through Saturday from 4:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Parts of Long Beach are also served.

Consolidated Transportation Services Agency (CTSA)

1000 E. Santa Ana Blvd., 3rd floor

Santa Ana

(714) 972-2872

Provides low-cost transportation seven days a week throughout Orange County for the elderly and disabled, who are over 55 years old or unable to use public transportation. Prospective clients must submit an application. If approved, eligible clients are placed on service registry. CTSA operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fee: $1 per 0 to 10 miles and $1 for each additional 10 miles. Transportation service requests should be made several days in advance.

Orange County Transit District Neighborhood Dial-A-Ride

(see countywide listing below)

Provides curb-to-curb transportation services by mini-vans and specially equipped hydraulic lift van to the disabled, elderly and developmentally disabled. Dial-A-Ride operates Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fee: 50 cents for elderly and disabled traveling within city zones. Other individuals are charged $1.25 for transportation services and $1.50 during peak hours from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Service requests should be made in advance. First-time users should call NEWRIDE or 639-7433. Regular clients should contact their neighborhood Dial-A-Ride office to make reservations.

DIAL-A-RIDE NUMBERS ANAHEIM 530-8276

ANAHEIM HILLS 530-8271

BREA 739-1180

BUENA PARK 739-1180

COSTA MESA 542-2330

CYPRESS 530-8276

DANA POINT 496-4623

EL TORO 496-4623

FOUNTAIN VALLEY 530-8562

FULLERTON 530-8200

GARDEN GROVE 530-8276

HUNTINGTON BEACH 530-8562

IRVINE 542-2330

LA HABRA 530-8200 or 739-1180

LA PALMA 530-8276

LAGUNA BEACH 496-4623

LAGUNA HILLS 496-4623

LAGUNA NIGUEL 496-4623

LAKE FOREST 496-4623

LOS ALAMITOS 530-8562 or 761-1910

MISSION VIEJO 496-4623

NEWPORT BEACH 542-2330

ORANGE 530-8271

PLACENTIA 937-0584

SAN CLEMENTE 496-4623

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO 496-4623

SANTA ANA 530-8562

SEAL BEACH 530-8562

STANTON 530-8276

TUSTIN 530-8271

VILLA PARK 530-8271

WESTMINSTER 530-8276

YORBA LINDA 937-0584

(All numbers are in 714 area code)

Local Volunteer Transportation Services:

ANAHEIM

Fish of Anaheim

(714) 772-6750

Volunteers use privately owned cars to provide free transportation for the elderly and disabled. Service is limited to Anaheim residents who have medical appointments and/or shopping needs within city limits. Drivers cannot accommodate wheelchairs or walkers. Transportation to medical appointments is available Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shopping trips are made Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 24 hours in advance to request service.

Christian Neighbors

(714) 491-3880

A nonprofit coalition providing services to low income families primarily in Anaheim, Garden Grove, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and Westminster. Clients are mostly senior citizens. Transportation to medical/therapy appointments within city limits. Wheelchairs cannot be accommodated. Request service at least two days in advance. Offices are staffed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Answering machine accepts requests after 5 p.m. Although service is free, donations for gasoline are accepted.

BALBOA

Fish-Harbor Area (714) 642-6060

Volunteers provide free emergency transportation to senior citizens living in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Irvine. Transportation to medical appointments within city limits is available Monday through Friday. Wheelchairs and walkers are restricted since volunteers use privately owned cars. Call between 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for information and requests for transportation.

BREA

Active Christians Today

(714) 529-6776

Free transportation services to medical and physical therapy appointments are provided to senior citizens and needy individuals. The volunteer program uses privately owned cars and a van equipped with a hydraulic lift and wheelchair ramp. Services are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Requests for transportation should be made at least two days in advance.

COSTA MESA

Fish-Harbor Area

(714) 642-6060

Volunteers provide free emergency transportation to senior citizens living in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Irvine. Transportation to medical appointments within city limits is available Monday through Friday. Wheelchairs and walkers are restricted since volunteers use privately owned cars. Call between 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for information and requests for transportation.

Costa Mesa Senior Citizens Club (714) 631-1632

Free transportation services to medical appointments and/or grocery shopping for Costa Mesa senior citizens within city limits. The only exception to boundary limits is transportation to Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach. Call Monday through Friday from 8 to 8:30 a.m. to request service.

FULLERTON

FISH of Fullerton (714) 738-0255

Request for free transportation services accepted by a 24-hour answering service. Volunteers use privately owned cars to provide transportation to the frail and elderly. Transportation for medical/therapy appointments, grocery shopping and errands is provided Monday through Saturday. Requests should be made at least a week in advance.

Maple Senior Multi-Service Center (714) 870-5682

Free door-to-door transportation Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for community residents using facilities at the senior center. An outreach program funded by the city also provides the elderly and disabled with transportation services for medical appointments and grocery shopping.

GARDEN GROVE

H. Lewis Lake Senior Center (714) 638-6766

Free transportation to medical appointments is available to senior citizens Monday through Friday during center hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Christian Neighbors

(714) 491-3880

A nonprofit coalition providing services to low income families primarily in Anaheim, Garden Grove, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and Westminster. Clients are mostly senior citizens. Transportation to medical/therapy appointments within city limits. Wheelchairs can not be accommodated. Request service at least two days in advance. Offices are staffed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Answering machine accepts requests after 5 p.m. Although service is free, donations for gasoline are accepted.

HUNTINGTON BEACH

Senior Citizens Outreach

Program

Michael E. Rodgers

Senior Citizens Center

(714) 960-2478, Ext. 13

Free transportation to frail and homebound community residents for medical, legal and Social Security appointments. Service is provided Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Transportation limited to city boundaries, with exception to Fountain Valley Community Hospital. Request service at least a week in advance. The program is funded by the city’s Department of Community Services and the Council on Aging.

IRVINE

Fish-Harbor Area (714) 642-6060

Volunteers provide emergency transportation to senior citizens living in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Irvine. Transportation to medical appointments within city limits is available Monday through Friday. Wheelchairs and walkers are restricted since volunteers use privately owned cars. Call between 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for information and requests for transportation.

Irvine Senior Center

(714) 733-1055

Free transportation services are available through the city’s Community Services Division. Routine door-to-door service is provided to clients using the center’s facilities. Requests for transportation for medical/therapy appointments and grocery shopping must be made two to five business days in advance.

LAGUNA BEACH Sally’s Fund

(714) 499-4100

A public nonprofit organization providing transportation, social outings, homebound grocery shopping service for the frail elderly 60 years and older. Services are available for residents only Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Transportation to medical appointments, social service agencies, the housing authority and banks is limited to a 40-mile radius. Requests for needed trips to neighboring cities should be made two weeks in advance. Presently has 75 clients of which 10 are legally blind.

NEWPORT BEACH

Fish-Harbor Area

(714) 642-6060

Volunteers provide emergency transportation to senior citizens living in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Irvine. Transportation to medical appointments within city limits is available Monday through Friday. Wheelchairs and walkers are restricted since volunteers use privately owned cars. Call between 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for information and requests for transportation.

ORANGE

Christian Neighbors (714) 491-3880

A nonprofit coalition providing services to low income families primarily in Anaheim, Garden Grove, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and Westminster. Clients are mostly senior citizens. Transportation to medical/therapy appointments within city limits. Wheelchairs can be accommodated. Request service at least two days in advance. Offices are staffed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Answering machine accepts requests after 5 p.m. Although service is free, donations for gasoline are accepted.

PLACENTIA

Fish of Placentia (714) 528-5220

Transportation services for Placentia and Yorba Linda residents without other means. Services are restricted to a 10-mile radius. Transportation to medical appointments is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Transportation on weekends is limited to emergencies. Requests one day notice. Volunteers use privately owned cars and cannot accommodate wheelchairs.

SAN CLEMENTE

San Clemente Senior Center

(714) 498-3322

Free door-to-door transportation to the senior center is available for the frail and elderly. Grocery shopping services are provided on Tuesdays and Thursdays for senior citizens without any means on transportation. Requests must be made one day in advance. Clients must be registered at the center for insurance purposes. The facility is opened Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SANTA ANA Someone Cares

(714) 953-3466

Free transportation for patients of Western Medical Center, as well as, appointments to staff physicians. The program operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wheelchair clients must be ambulatory. Volunteer drivers are needed.

Christian Neighbors

(714) 491-3880

A nonprofit coalition providing services to low income families primarily in Anaheim, Garden Grove, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and Westminster. Clients are mostly senior citizens. Transportation to medical/therapy appointments within city limits. Wheelchairs can not be accommodated. Request service at least two days in advance. Offices are staffed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Answering machine accepts requests after 5 p.m. Although service is free, donations for gasoline are accepted.

TUSTIN Christian Neighbors

(714) 491-3880

A nonprofit coalition providing practical help services to low income families primarily in Anaheim, Garden Grove, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and Westminster. Clients are mostly senior citizens. Transportation to medical/therapy appointments within city limits. Wheelchairs cannot be accommodated. Request service at least two days in advance. Offices are staffed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Answering machine accepts requests after 5 p.m. Although service is free, donations for gasoline are accepted.

WESTMINSTER

Christian Neighbors

(714) 491-3880

A nonprofit coalition providing practical help services to low income families primarily in Anaheim, Garden Grove, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and Westminster. Clients are mostly senior citizens. Transportation to medical/therapy appointments within city limits. Wheelchairs cannot be accommodated. Request service at least two days in advance. Offices are staffed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Answering machine accepts requests after 5 p.m. Although service is free, donations for gasoline are accepted.

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