MARINETTE — Senior citizens in the cities of Marinette and Menominee have another option to get to and from their medical appointments.
Marinette County Elderly Services (MCES), a nonprofit organization, launched the Marinette/Menominee Medical Transport program on Jan. 5. The one-year pilot program is funded by a grant of a little more than $14,000 from the Provident Health Foundation.
People need to register for a ride at MCES at least three business days in advance of their appointments at 715-854-7453 or at 516 N. U.S. 141, P.O. Box 456, Crivitz, WI 54114, to ensure a ride.
Seniors in the Marinette and Menominee city limits can get rides to their appointments on Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The time slot from 2 to 4 p.m. is reserved for people who need a ride home after being discharged from the hospital, emergency room or Aurora and Bellin Health Urgent Care. MCES Executive Director Olivia Cherry said the 2-4 p.m. time slot is available for now as appointments are slow.
The entire program, in fact, is off to a slow start.
“I think the word is not getting out enough,” Cherry said, adding the program has been advertised on Facebook and in other media outlets. “Once people start utilizing it and word spreads, I think it really will take off. I think it’s just that initial push to get it going.”
She said MCES went to Aurora, Bellin and other medical providers to see if the program was a need, and she said everyone was on board.
“It’s going to help people that have a barrier when it comes to getting to medical appointments,” Cherry said. “Transportation can be a barrier if they don’t have an operable vehicle to get to that medical appointment, if they don’t have friends or family close by that can bring them to appointments. Maybe they do have a vehicle, but they don’t have the funds to pay for fuel.”
The requested contribution is $6.50 per round trip per person, but Cherry said nobody will be turned away. “Contributions are all confidential,” she said. “The driver won’t ask any questions. Anybody can ride.”
She believes the cost is more affordable than taking a taxi.
Participants who are unable to ride the bus independently must have a representative with them to assist because the drivers are unable to do any lifting of participants or assisting with appointments.
The bus is handicapped and wheelchair accessible and can hold up to eight passengers.
Cherry said if the program takes off, it could be expanded to more than two days in 2025. The concern now, however, is to get more involvement.
“We did expect some more participation,” she said.
MCES already offers a transportation service to rural residents on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. She said the new program fills a niche.
“We don’t want seniors to have to cancel medical appointments or skip appointments that they really need and should be going to just because of not having a ride,” Cherry said.
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