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The Senior Services (Care & Share) Transportation Program is funded by a grant provided by Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD), Senior Services programs. This grant allows us to provide transportation services only to persons aged 60 and older. Grant service specifications require that services be prioritized based on the medical and nutritional needs of our elderly clients. Transportation services for personal business are provided on the basis of driver availability. The following Hawthorne schedule will be effective Aug. 1.
• Medical and pharmacy appointments – As scheduled by physician/client between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Shopping (Safeway and dollar stores) – 10 a.m.
• Senior Center for lunch – 11 a.m.
• To home from Senior Center after lunch – 12:30 p.m.
• Banking and Post Office (personal business) – 1 p.m.
• Other locations for personal business – only when driver time allows
There will be no transportation after 2 p.m.
Every effort will be made to follow the above schedule. However, every client should be prepared for up to a 15-minute variance (early or delayed) depending on priority medical transportation needs. Variations may also be dependent upon inclement weather, driver availability or other unforeseen circumstances. All local rides must be scheduled at least one (1) day in advance. This allows us to maintain an efficient and effective schedule. We are not an “on demand” form of transportation and cannot interrupt other clients’ schedules to accommodate those who do not schedule in advance.
All personal business must be completed as quickly as possible. Driver will not wait at any location for more than 10 minutes, as this would cause a delay in the day’s schedule. Most businesses are happy to call the Senior Center when a client has completed their business and needs to be picked up again. There may be occasions when the driver cannot wait even the 10 minutes and if so, driver will notify client when they will be picked up. It is the client’s responsibility to inform the driver if they believe their business will take more than 10 minutes to accomplish.
Clients must be able to board and exit the vehicle on their own without assistance or must have a companion ride with them to provide such assistance. For liability purposes, drivers can only assist passengers with securing safety restraints and securing baggage. Drivers cannot provide personal assistance such as shopping, checking mail, banking, etc.
In accordance with ADSD grant specifications, we cannot mandate a fee for senior transportation. However, we can and do suggest a donation of $1 per one-way ride. Services will not be denied based on a senior’s inability to pay.
Our program also provides transportation from Hawthorne to Fallon and Reno at least once each month and from Mina/Luning to Fallon and Reno as needed. Transportation is also available from Luning/Mina to Hawthorne on a weekly basis. These out of town trips are scheduled at least six months in advance so seniors have an opportunity to make appointments for health care or other personal business. There are fees associated with out-of-town trips and these fees vary depending on departure and destination locations. Reservations for out of town trips are required and service is provided on a “first-reserved, first-served” basis in the event the bus fills up. Fallon or Reno medical appointments must be between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., as busses must depart from Fallon and Reno no later than 2:30 p.m. for the return trip home, with no other stops on the way.
It’s important for the public to understand that because our transportation program is provided through federal funding (passed down to the State and then to Mineral County), we must comply with strict grant requirements. We are unable to provide personal assistance to our riders, such as assisting with shopping, checking mail or running other errands, as these services are not within the scope of the grant’s purpose. We ask for your understanding and cooperation in the event we tell you “no, we can’t do that” because non-compliance puts our program and the County at risk of losing funding which would result in the loss of valuable services to our senior citizens.
In the event our only driver is off on leave for one or more days, rides will be available only for medical appointments until such time that we are able to have an “on-call” driver available. For more information about trip schedules, please call 945-5519 and select option 1. If you have specific questions about transportation services and grant requirements, please call Program Director, Cherrie George at 775-945-5519.
