For seniors who don’t drive or have a friend or loved one nearby to help them get to and from doctor’s appointments, meet up with friends, or even go to the store to buy groceries, getting around can be frustrating. But these day-to-day activities and commitments must be done, and so seniors in the Fort Myers area need to know what their options are for safe, reliable transportation.
Here are four senior transportation services in Fort Myers:
1. Public Transportation
Lee County’s public transportation department, LeeTran, offers regularly scheduled bus service within the Fort Myers area. See the latest bus route maps and schedules.
Passengers can purchase tickets directly from the bus or trolley driver (exact change required) and a variety of multi-trip passes are available for purchase. Seniors 65 or older are eligible for discount fares with proof of age. Learn more about discount tickets.
LeeTran also provides a paratransit service called Passport for eligible Lee County residents. Passport is a door-to-door transportation service for persons with disabilities who are unable to use the standard public transit service because of their disability.
Service is limited to areas where LeeTran’s regular buses operate, and Passport vehicles can only pick up and drop off passengers at locations within three-quarters of a mile of a LeeTran bus route. Passport service is available during regular LeeTran bus service hours, and can be reserved from a minimum of one day before needed to a maximum of up to two weeks in advance.
Residents must complete an eligibility application and a face-to-face interview to use the Passport service. Learn more about Passport’s eligibility requirements and begin the application process here, or call the LeeTran Passport Office at 239-533-0300.
2. Find a Ride Florida
Find a Ride Florida is a transportation service that was developed and funded by the University of Florida Department of Occupational Therapy and the Florida Department of Transportation's Elderly Drivers Statewide Safety Resource Centers. Find a Ride Florida is committed to helping seniors with their local medical and nonmedical transportation needs so they can remain independent and active within their communities. Passengers fill out a short form online and Find a Ride Florida provides a list of transportation services in the Fort Myers area.
3. Faith in Action
Faith in Action is a program supported by the Dr. Piper Center for Social Services. This service provides seniors in the Fort Myers area with a safe, reliable transportation option for getting to medical appointments, the grocery store, or running other necessary errands.
Faith in Action’s volunteer drivers are all over the age of 55 and normally reside in the same zip code as their passengers, which makes for a stronger connection and ease of access.
You can request more information about the Faith in Action transportation service and other senior services provided by the Dr. Piper Center for Social Services.
4. Senior Care Locator Companies
There are several publicly and privately held companies that help connect seniors in Fort Myers with a variety of resources, including scheduling transportation within the local area. A few of the most well known of these are A Better Solution of Fort Myers, Care.com, and Home Instead Senior Care.
For many seniors, finding reliable, safe, affordable transportation is essential to maintaining their independence and quality of life. In the Fort Myers area, there are several senior transportation services that will help you or your loved one get to doctor’s appointments, meet up with friends for social events, go shopping and run errands, or attend church services.
For more information about senior transportation and other senior services in the Fort Myers area, contact the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida online or by phone at 866-413-5337 (866-41-ELDER).
