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‘Wheels to Wellness’ for Disabled and Elderly Funded Through 2014

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — The Prince William Area Agency on Aging (PWAAA) and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) launched their Wheels to Wellness Program this spring, to provide free transit for the elderly, disabled and low-income individuals to medical appointments across the county.

Now, the transit agency announced it has received a second grant from the funding the Potomac Health Foundation to continue funding the service.

After a 2011 study conducted by the PWAAA and PRTC, it was discovered there was a need for mobility options for these groups in Prince William.

“The bus service covers more than a bit of county, but there are areas where there isn’t always service in the county. I believe there was a desire to help specifically those communities,” said PRTC spokeswoman Christine Rodrigo. “What came out of the study and what the Prince William Area Agency on Aging and the PRTC found was that there was a need for these populations, specifically for medical needs and that they needed help with their transportation.”

This spring, the Wheels to Wellness program was funded by an initial grant of $362,673 from the Potomac Health Foundation, and PRTC has received a second grant of $43, 940 from the Foundation to continue funding. This service is in addition to service on the various local and commuter bus routes PRTC provides Monday through Saturday.

“Together, those grants are expected to take us fully through FY 2014,” Rodrigo said.

In order to take part in the program participants need to fall within the established guidelines which include those who are 80 years of age or older, have a disability that is defined within the Americans with Disabilities Act, or meet a low-income level established by the program. Participants must also not be eligible for the Medicaid Transportation Program and live in zip codes within Prince William County that are covered by the Potomac Health Foundation.

Those enrolled in the program receive a rechargeable card, similar to a debit card that allows them to make trips by taxi to medical facilities in their area, which is meant to serve as a supplement to the PRTC bus transit lines, which may not reach an individuals medical facility.

“They can use this card to pay for trips that are related to medical needs. Say for example someone needs to see a doctor, but the doctor is not along one of the bus routes – it would be very inconvenient for a person, maybe because of their medical condition, or because the bus doesn’t come close enough to that particular location…,” Rodrigo said.

The amount that participants are allowed to spend is determined during the eligibility process with PRTC, and a monetary and trip limit is set based on the needs of the applicant.

“A patient who is receiving dialysis – that typically happens three times a week – and so a person who needs dialysis treatment would be preapproved for more trips a month than someone who is not receiving dialysis,” Rodrigo said of the types of determinations made to set a limit on a participants monthly trips.

Despite the fact that the program has just begun, there have already been some positive changes in the community, according to Rodrigo.

“There are 152 people now who have determined that they qualify for the program. It’s helping them to not only save money, but quite a few people that I’ve talked to have mentioned that they’re happy to be able to do things on their own,” Rodrigo said.

For those interested in applying for the Wheels to Wellness program, there are forms that must be sent or faxed to PRTC that are available at the PRTC center in Woodbridge and other government agencies such as the PWAAA and on the PRTC website, prtctransit.org.

For more information on the program or eligibility, contact Project Manager Karen Mills at 703-580-6177.

 

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