Age-Friendly Discussion Groups

For decades, many Americans have relied on a culture of cars and road infrastructure as our primary transportation option to get from one place to another. But safe, reliable and easy-to-use transportation options for people of all ages are critical to making a community age-friendly and therefore essential for optimal aging. Driver education classes can help, as can alternative travel options including ride-hail companies (Uber, Lyft), buses, trains, ferries and specialized options like special needs transportation to and from medical appointments.

Cars have changed dramatically since many of us earned our first driver’s license, but there is an easy way to update your driving skills and extend your driving years. For more than 35 years, AARP’s Smart Driver course has provided education to help drivers of any age improve their skills and become more confident behind the wheel. When taking courses online or in person, participants learn the current rules of the road, defensive driving techniques and how to operate their vehicle more safely in today’s challenging driving environment. To locate a classroom workshop, visit www.aarp.org/findacourse or call toll-free to 877-846-3299. To register for an online course, visit www.aarpdriversafety.org/. Classroom fees are $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Online fees are $19.95 for members and $24.95 for non-members.

No one who relies on their car wants to face the idea that they may lose their ability to drive safely as they age, but the fact is that one in five people over 65 no longer drives. That gap in perception can be problematic when more than 80 percent of drivers never talk with their family or doctors about planning for a time when they need to give up the keys. “On average, we outlive our driving years by a decade,” says AARP transportation researcher Jana Lynott. “We all have to educate people about some of the challenges that go hand in hand with the benefits of living longer.”

One bridge between using personal vehicles and public transportation is the increasingly popular option of using services like Uber and Lyft with a smartphone. These services are available on-demand and are easy to use. No money changes hands and specialized vehicles are available in some communities for people who need to travel with mobility equipment like a wheelchair or walker. There are also companies that help connect riders with drivers with a simple phone call. GoGoGrandparent.com provides a 24/7 service to help older adults connect with Uber and Lyft drivers for a small fee, $0.27 per minute. Families can sign up to get texts when a loved one is on the move. Riders can even add frequent locations to their account that correspond with a number on their phone keypad. No smartphone required. Questions about the service can be answered by calling 855-464-6872.

Learning how to navigate public transportation options is a great way to expand where you go and how you get there. However, navigating public transportation can be a bit unnerving for new passengers. Snohomish County’s Community Transit provides free travel training to teach riders how to use their regular route bus system. Think of it as Bus Riding 101. These services provide individual instruction, as well as group presentations. Call Community Transit in Snohomish at 425-348-2379 for more information. Reach King County Metro Transit for training at 206-749-4242 and Pierce Transit is available at 253-581-8000.

If you’re over 65 or have a disability, you might qualify for a Regional Reduced Fair Permit (RRFP). The RRFP gives users access to discount fares on 15 transportation systems throughout Puget Sound, including Washington and King County ferries, South Transit, King County Metro, Pierce Transit and Community Transit. Eligible riders for permanent permits include adults over 65 and persons with disabilities. The ID card costs $3. With an RRFP, rides on Metro buses are only $1 and a monthly reduced fair pass costs $36. Fares for other transit rides may vary. To see if you are eligible or for more information, call King County Metro at 206-553-3000.

If you are looking for other travel options in your area like rides to medical appointments or paratransit, call 2-1-1 to reach the Washington Information Network or visit them online at https://win211.org/. In Snohomish and King County, Hopelink.org is a great resource for special needs transportation. For general questions about HopeLink call their administrative office at 425-869-6000. Help is also available at www.washingtoncommunitylivingconnections.org or call 855-587-0252.

Being able to move about your community determines social and civic participation; increases access to community and health services; decreases isolation; and improves overall health outcomes. The challenges are clear when it comes to creating lifelong transportation opportunities. To be truly age-friendly, city planners need to prioritize communities over commuters. Affordable, reliable public transit is vital, as are safe sidewalks and street crossings. Simply put, members of the community must have choices that go beyond car keys.

Discussion Questions

1. What features of public transit do you currently enjoy? What features would encourage you to use public transit more often (e.g. frequent buses, safety features)?
2. What areas would you visit if you didn’t have to drive to the destination?
3. How have transportation options improved in your community? How have they worsened?
4. How have you changed the way you drive with age?

We Want to Hear from You! Participants in the Age-Friendly discussion talks who contact Northwest Prime Time are eligible for prize drawings.

From “The Matchmaker” – a short film telling the story of Sam, who sets out to find his mother the perfect best friend at her new retirement community. The film stars TV veterans Rhea Perlman and Barbara Bain, as well as Robert Romanus and Byrna Weiss

GRAND PRIZE! The Grand Prize (awarded at the end of the year) will enjoy an exclusive Seattle-area premiere of Sy Rosen’s short film, The Matchmaker at their discussion group’s meeting place. The film is based on one of longtime Hollywood writer Sy’s Northwest Prime Time columns. Sy will be available to speak directly to your group, answer questions about the film and his humorous take on aging. Grand Prize winners and those selected from our monthly drawing will also receive a $100 gift card to Starbucks. No cost to participate; limit one entry per month per group – details below.

Don’t have your own group? You are invited to participate in Age Friendly Seattle’s Kitchen Table Talk on Tuesday, December 18, from 1–2pm. At event time, call 206-386-1200 (tollfree 1-844-386-1200). Or visit www.tinyurl.com/KTTdecember. Either way, when prompted, enter code 783649. For more information, visit www.seattle.gov/agefriendly/events. For questions at other times, call 206-386-1521.

We want your feedback! We encourage groups to provide input on this project:

• Snap a photo of your group and post it or any comments/questions on AARP Washington’s Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/AARPWA/groups;

• email your comments /questions to editor@northwestprimetime.com;

• call Northwest Prime Time at 206-824-8600;

• mail us a note: Northwest Prime Time, PO Box 13647, Seattle WA 98198.

WINNERS OF A GIFT CARD for their participation in last month’s discussion: “We had a wonderful and lengthy discussion about aging with lots of information to share, and it felt cathartic to actually talk about issues that concerned me personally. Thank you for this opportunity to get together with old friends,” said Sharon Gilman about a gathering with her (mostly retired) educator friends.

PRIZES! Each group that contacts Northwest Prime Time by email, phone or U.S. mail will be entered to win a $100 gift card to Starbucks and will also automatically be entered to win the Grand Prize. We look forward to hearing from your group!

Northwest Prime Time thanks the sponsors of the Age-Friendly Discussion Groups project: AARP Washington, King County Library System, Aging and Disability Services-Area Agency for Seattle and King County, Age Friendly Seattle