Transportation for Healthy Aging

Equitable access to transportation is a key component of good health. Transportation is increasingly recognized as a growing need for older adults and essential to maintaining independence and health, no matter one’s age. In Maine, the most rural state in the nation, transportation is most often provided by automobile. For those who are no longer able to drive themselves, Volunteer Transportation Programs are an important solution. Volunteer programs can also augment transit routes. Most of these programs offer assistance in and out of the home and can accommodate some mobility limitations.

There are still many areas around Maine that do not have equitable access to transportation for older people, and in these areas many individuals must rely on family and friends for transportation when they cannot drive themselves. However, there are initiatives to support start-up volunteer transportation programs with funding and technical assistance and the number of volunteer programs around the state has increased in recent years.

With the support of the Maine Health Access Foundation, the Transportation for Healthy Aging initiative is partnering with stakeholders to design and implement enhancements to Maine’s transportation system that will increase the awareness of and availability of transportation services for older Mainers to access healthcare and behavioral healthcare, and meet their social health needs.

Volunteer Transportation Programs in Maine

Maine has a robust history of community volunteerism. Across the state, there are many programs and initiatives that offer transportation to individuals in their towns or counties through volunteers. Many are organized as stand-alone nonprofit organizations; others operate under the auspices of the local municipality or as a network of volunteers. In every case, the program is available due to the impressive commitment of community volunteers who want to help their neighbors.

Ages served: All the listed programs serve older adults, with varying age limits for each program.

Service area: varies by program and the individual program should be contacted directly for further information. Some limit riders to residents of a particular municipality or county.

Types of vehicles: Programs utilize volunteer drivers in individual vehicles to provide transportation from the rider’s home to the destination.

Destinations: Some programs limit destinations to medical and/or food access. Some limit the mileage of a trip. Contact the individual program for more information.

Fee for service: This varies by program; most (but not all) programs do not charge a fee.

Volunteers: Most programs conduct background checks on their volunteers and provide training for their volunteers. Some programs offer mileage reimbursement to volunteers.

This listing below includes contact information for each program, including email, telephone, general service area, and (if available) website.

Volunteer Transportation Programs by Service Area Counties:

Androscoggin

Lake Region Senior Services (Bridgton, etc.)
Telephone: 207-647-2483
Website: http://www.lrssstp.nzfreeservers.com/index.html
Cost: Mileage Fee
Ridership Criteria: N/A

Road to Recovery (American Cancer Society)
Telephone: 1-800-227-2345
Website: https://www.cancer.org/support-programs-and-services/road-to-recovery.html
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: cancer treatment destination

Rural Community Action Ministry
Telephone: 207-524-5095
Website: https://rcam.net/
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: 55+

Aroostook

Caribou Area Rides Service (C.A.R.S.)
Telephone: 207-493-1223
Website: https://www.cariboumaine.org/cars-caribou-area-ride-service/
Cost: $4/ride
Ridership Criteria: 65+, Caribou zip code

Friendly Visitors Program, Aroostook Agency on Aging
Telephone: 207-764-3396
Website: N/A
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: Friendly Visitor Client, Identified at risk of isolation

Cumberland

Cumberland Area Rides (C.A.R.)
Telephone: 207-829-2208, Ext. 2
Website: https://www.cumberlandmaine.com/carprogram
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: 60 +, Cumberland resident

Freeport Community Services
Telephone: (207) 865-3985 x222
Website: https://fcsmaine.org/services-and-programs/
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: Town resident, All Ages

Independent Senior Network
Telephone: 508-728-1296
Website: https://www.independentseniorsnetwork.org/
Cost: Membership
Ridership Criteria: 60+, Members, Portland area

People Plus
Telephone: 207-729-0757
Website: https://peopleplusmaine.org/volunteer-transportation-network
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: 18+, No Other Transportation Available

Yarmouth Cares About Neighbors
Telephone: 207-329-7295
Website: https://ycan.info/transportation/
Cost: N/A
Ridership Criteria: Yarmouth Resident, Vaccinated

Franklin

Rangeley Health Rides
Telephone: 207-864-9777
Website: https://www.townofrangeley.com/182/Rangeley-Health-Ride
Cost: N/A
Ridership Criteria: all ages, residents of Rangeley, Dallas, Sandy River, Rangeley Plantation

Hancock

At Home Downeast
Telephone: 207-374-5852
Website: https://www.downeastcommunitypartners.org/services/elder/at-home/
Cost: Membership
Ridership Criteria: Membership, 60+

Friends in Action
Telephone: 207-664-6016
Website: https://friendsinactionellsworth.org
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: 50+, Disabled

Island Connections
Telephone: 207-288-4457
Website: https://islconnections.org
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: 70+ or Disabled

Surry Community Improvement Assoc Transportation
Telephone: 207-667-9475
Website: N/A
Cost: N/A
Ridership Criteria: Surry resident, medical rides only

Kennebec

Neighbors Driving Neighbors
Telephone: 207-860-0677
Website: https://www.neighborsdrivingneighbors.org/
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: 18+, Residents of Belgrade, Mt. Vernon, Rome, Fayette, Readfield, Vienna

Knox

Neighbor to Neighbor
Telephone: 207-691-7069
Website: https://ridesinstgeorge.org/
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: Residents of St. George

Lincoln

Boothbay Community Rides
Telephone: 207-633-4357
Website: https://www.crcboothbay.org/boothbay-community-rides
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: All ages, Boothbay resident

Lincoln County FISH
Telephone: (207)-350-9808
Website: https://standrewsnewcastle.org/ministries/outreach/lincoln-county-fish/
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: All ages, No children

Oxford

Penobscot

Mobilize Katahdin
Telephone: 207-370-1581
Website: http://mobilizekatahdin.org/
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: Resident of Katahdin region

Piscataquis

Sagadahoc

Georgetown Volunteer Transportation
Telephone: 207-387-0440
Website: https://www.agefriendlygeorgetown.org/transportation
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: Unable to accomodate wheelchairs

Rides in Neighbors Cars (Rides I.N.C.)
Telephone: 207-837-9577
Website: https://agefriendly.community/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/RidesINC.pdf
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: 60+

Somerset

Waldo

Aging Well in Waldo County: Gift of a Lift
Telephone: (207)-218-2107 option 3
Website: https://agingwellinwaldocounty.org/gift-of-a-lift-2
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: 50 +, Resident of Waldo County

Washington

Danforth Volunteer Driver Program
Telephone: 207-538-1469
Website: N/A
Cost: N/A
Ridership Criteria: 50 +, medical rides only

York

Age-Friendly Saco
Telephone: 207-710-5029
Website: https://agefriendlysaco.org/
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: 65+

FISH Kennebunk
Telephone: 207-967-8514
Website: N/A
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: Town Resident, All Ages

Grateful Undead
Telephone: 207-536-9172
Website: https://gratefulundead.org/
Cost: N/A
Ridership Criteria: N/A

Heart to Heart
Telephone: (207)-361-7311
Website: https://hearttoheartagelesslove.org/
Cost: None
Ridership Criteria: 60+, York County Resident

The Kennector, Kennebunk
Telephone: 207-604-1366
Website: https://www.kennebunkmaine.us/1037/Transportation
Cost: $5/ride
Ridership Criteria: All Ages, All Welcome

For More Information...

Contact Jo Cooper, Project Manager at jcooper@mainecouncilonaging.org
to learn more about opportunities to get involved.