Local Transit Organizations Keeping Seniors Mobile and Connected

July 9, 2020

EMBARK Partnership amplifies commitment to improving health of Oklahomans. According to Health Management Technology, the total cost of missed healthcare appointments in the United States annually is $150 billion. Absenteeism is also on the rise at doctor’s offices, with missed appointments up 30% since the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, EMBARK and SendaRide teamed up to address those needs.

• EMBARK has provided free, round-trip door-to-door transportation to non-emergency medical appointments for seniors in Oklahoma, Canadian, and Northern Cleveland (Moore) counties during the COVID crisis.
• Share-A-Fare is a subsidy program for individuals with disabilities and seniors ages 60 or over. Share-A-Fare provides $4 per ride subsidy-eligible individuals to take up to 52 rides per year. This program has altered its services to a courier service option, allowing seniors under safer-at-home orders to use their trip subsidy to schedule courier pickup for prescriptions or other needed items to be delivered to the residence.
• SendaRide is also assisting EMBARK and the Regional Food Bank in delivery of food boxes to area seniors impacted by COVID 19 and the stay at home orders.

“Now more than ever, seniors require safe and reliable transportation to get to their medical appointments,” said Jason Ferbrache, EMBARK Administrator. “Through this partnership, we know our customers’ needs will be put first from the moment they are picked up to the last minute of their experience.”

SendaRide offers personalized door-to-door concierge service for customers needing transport to various locations. The one-of-a-kind experience is enhanced by healthcare industry-recruited drivers and hand-inspected vehicles. Each trip offers the rider and their family assurance that they will arrive at their destination safely and on time. All rides use GPS technology, and the SendaRide app shows rides in progress for family members and caregivers.

“We are grateful to partner with EMBARK to help serve the transportation needs of Central Oklahomans,,” said Laura Fleet, CEO and founder of SendaRide. “Isolation can cause depression and loneliness, so providing transportation options gives them independence and can help improve quality of life. I believe our long-term partnership with EMBARK will help Oklahomans move in the right direction and SendaRide is excited to be part of this journey.”

The partnership between SendaRide and EMBARK began in 2019. SendaRide now provides transportation services for the EMBARK Well program, Share-A-Fare, and EMBARK’s suite of senior transportation services that includes grocery shopping, non-emergency medical transportation, and transportation to area senior

nutrition and activity centers. The programs have been largely successful in improving the overall physical and mental health for Oklahoma’s senior population.

“This has really changed my life,” said Martha Holland, an EMBARK Well rider. “I quit driving last year and am on a fixed income. It gives me an outlet to get out, and both EMBARK and SendaRide provide such high-quality service. You’re able to build a great rapport with your drivers, and it’s just a really lovely experience.”

Seniors or their caregivers can apply for any of EMBARK’s senior transportation services by calling 405-297-2583.

About SendaRide: SendaRide is setting the standard in healthcare transportation. Headquartered in Oklahoma, SendaRide serves Oklahoma City, Tulsa, DFW, Houston and Austin, Texas. SendaRide was developed specifically for the healthcare industry and is focused on maintaining the highest level of service, safety, security, and efficiency for their riders, business partners and families. SendaRide's customized door-to-door concierge service and user-friendly HIPAA-compliant technology provides constant GPS monitoring, which sets them apart in the industry. Their commitment to provide an affordable and convenient transportation option for the healthcare industry will help reduce healthcare costs, increase facility efficiency, and improve patient quality of life. SendaRide will continue to offer “protocol safe” transportation for our riders and Care Partners. To learn more, visit www.sendaride.com.