Albert County rideshare a lifeline for seniors

HILLSBOROUGH, N.B. – A unique program in Albert County is giving rural seniors more independence.

The program matches seniors with volunteer drivers to get them to medical appointments or help them run errands.

Tele-Drive Albert County covers the area between Alma and Riverview and has 50 users and 27 volunteer drivers.

Mabel Knowlton, 87, lives in Hillsborough says she uses the service to get groceries, or for doctors and hospital visits.

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“I had an operation last fall, which I had to make quite a few trips to the hospital,” she said.

“I know now if I get sick or anything now, all I got to do is phone them and they’ll be there.”

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Tele-Drive is a registered charity. Users pay $10 a month for the service and then pay between $10 and $35 dollars per trip depending on distance travelled.

With the largest amount for trips between 126 and 160 kilometres.

Drivers will take them door-to-door, with as many stops as they need, and also wait with them at appointments.

“There’s a lot of seniors between Alma to Riverview and beyond that don’t have cars or don’t like to drive in the winter time,” co-ordinator Kim Beers told Global News. “It just it keeps them in their home.”

She said the drivers volunteer their time and use their own cars. They are reimbursed for mileage and also any additional insurance they purchase. Each driver is required to have $2 million coverage.

Beers said each driver also goes through a screening process, which includes a criminal background check and training on what to do in different situations, if there is an emergency.

“It’s the self-satisfaction, you can help someone,” volunteer driver Lynn Beals said. “I find that interesting.”

Beals said she often drives Knowlton and other seniors that live in the same building. She joined the program two years ago, after her mother died.

“I used to take care of my mom a lot… and drive her places, so I guess it kind of fills the void.”

There is no public transit in the area that Tele-Drive covers. It began with just two users and five volunteer drivers.

They are always looking for more volunteers or donations to help keep it going.