OFA Expands Transportation Program in Delaware County

DELHI  – Getting to the doctor or getting your prescription picked up just got a little easier as the Delaware County Office of the Aging announces a merger with the Rural Health Network of South Central New York to expand volunteer transportation service for those age 60 or older who are not on Medicaid.

It started on Thursday and anyone 60 or older who is not on medicaid and needs transportation to and from a medical appointment will be able to call the Get There Call Center to schedule a ride through the Volunteer Transportation Service. The number to call is: 1-855-373-4040.

There has been transportation coordinated by the OFA and it will continue to operate in the same manner, according to a notice on the OFA website.  The only difference is the network of volunteer drivers will now be coordinated through the Get There call center.

Lyndsay Komosinski,  director of the Office for the Aging,  said the service is available to provide rides to and from the medical appointment, by picking up a user from their home and taking them back following  the appointment.  The office’s contract, Komosinski said, is for seniors 60 or older. It is essentially a free service, but there are suggested contributions included.

The OFA is subcontracting the service in order to serve a greater number of older adults by combining funding resources to provide more trips, according to Komosinski. She said most of the current drivers have signed on to Get There.

Seniors can call the center directly   at least five business days in advance of any non-emergency medical transportation. This would include meetings like scheduled doctors appointments or prescription pick-ups. 

“By subcontracting out to this agency, we will be able to serve more people,” she said.

Get There is a mobility management program of the Rural Health Network of South Central New York which serves the five counties of Broome, Chenango, Otsego, Tioga and Delaware counties.

For transportation assistance you may call the Get There center at the number above Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.. The call center provides free trip planning, transportation education and referral services to people throughout the region and beyond. It is staffed by Mobility and Transportation Advocates who are well-versed in the area's transportation options and eager to assist anyone with travel needs or questions.

The county OFA also operates a bus with handicapped accessibility that serves most of the county. It operates three days per week on a fixed schedule to help riders meet their shopping, medical and social needs. The schedule is available by calling the  OFA at 607-832-5750 or visiting the website. The buses make trips to Oneonta, Kingston, Albany, Binghamton and Norwich.