Funding supported by Toyota Motor North America will help older adults and people with disabilities access a portal to schedule their own rides via home52 Transportation
Media Contacts: Paula Smith, Director of Communications, (513) 509-9211, psmith@help4seniors.org
BLUE ASH, OHIO, June 28, 2023 – home52 Transportation, a service of Council on Aging (COA) subsidiary home52, has received a 2023 AARP Community Challenge Grant. home52 Transportation is one of only 310 grantees nationwide (out of 3,600+ applications). The $35,168 grant is in the Transportation Systems Change Demonstration category, which is supported by Toyota Motor North America.
“Access to reliable and appropriate forms of transportation is a key ingredient in helping older adults remain healthy, active and independent in our community,” said Council on Aging CEO Suzanne Burke. “We are incredibly proud that AARP and Toyota selected home52 Transportation for this investment that will make Hamilton County more livable for residents of all ages. AARP is a nationwide leader in making communities more livable and we are honored that they see the tangible value this project will bring to our area.”
home52 Transportation provides on-demand and advance-scheduled trips for riders in Hamilton County who require specialized transportation services, including older adults and individuals with disabilities. In 2022, the program provided nearly 40,000 rides for approximately 1,200 riders countywide. These trips were scheduled through a central call center, which processed more than 55,000 calls in 2022. In 2023, home52 Transportation will launch an online scheduling and trip management system known as Passenger Portal, allowing riders to schedule and manage their own trips, without having to contact the call center.
The AARP grant will fund development of educational tools that will help older riders access and use Passenger Portal, including step-by-step videos and printed guides, as well as in-person education sessions for those who require additional assistance. The grant will also fund a limited number of home52 Transportation rides for Hamilton County riders who create a Passenger Portal account and use the system to schedule their trips.
“Our riders can no longer drive or use traditional modes of public transportation, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to manage their own comings and goings,” said Bryan Black, home52 Transportation manager. “Passenger Portal will give our riders more control over their trip, allowing them to schedule trips and receive real time updates about their ride. Additionally, riders can designate someone to schedule trips on their behalf in the portal.”
Passenger Portal education materials will be developed this summer and launched in the fall. It is anticipated that home52 Transportation riders will be able to begin using Passenger Portal in October 2023.
About the AARP Community Challenge Grant
The AARP Community Challenge is a grant program to make tangible improvements in communities that jump-start long-term change. It is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for people of all ages. With additional funding support from Toyota Motor North America, the program is also increasing its investment in projects that improve mobility innovation and transportation options. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/CommunityChallenge.
About home52 Transportation
home52 Transportation is a program of COA’s nonprofit subsidiary, home52. home52 Transportation is an innovative model designed to improve quality and increase accessibility for riders who need specialized transportation, including older adults and people with disabilities. home52 Transportation provides hands-on and through-the-door service, transportation for advance-scheduled and same-day appointments, and real time tracking and communication between riders, drivers and destinations. home52 coordinates multiple transportation providers to improve efficiency while offering a high-quality experience for riders. Currently, home52 Transportation is available in Hamilton County with plans to expand into additional counties in COA’s service area in 2024.
About Council on Aging and home52
Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio (COA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing quality of life for older adults, people with disabilities, their families and caregivers. As the state-designated Area Agency on Aging serving Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren counties, COA promotes choice, independence, dignity and well-being through a range of services that help people remain independent for as long as possible. One call to COA links people to the wide variety of agencies, information and programs that serve older adults and people with disabilities in the region.
home52 is a wholly owned, non-profit subsidiary of Council on Aging. Created in 2017, home52 is COA’s innovation hub, providing a flexible environment to develop innovative services and products to meet the needs of a variety of stakeholders and partners. home52 programs and services align with COA’s mission to help individuals remain independent in their homes and communities. Products and services created and launched by home52 are managed and administered by Council on Aging staff. More information at home52.org.