here - Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island

JEWISH COMMUNITY COUNCIL
OF GREATER CONEY ISLAND
Senior Citizen
Transportation Program
Overview and Statistical
Summary Report
2
Acknowledgements
The Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island
acknowledges with gratitude the following funders that have
provided support for our Transportation Program:
• NYC Department of Youth and Community Development
• NYC Department for the Aging
• New York City Council
• NYS Office for the Aging
• NYS Department of Transportation
• Federal Transit Administration
• Altman Foundation
• Arthur and Eve Fastenberg Philanthropic Fund
• Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation, Inc.
• Constans Culver Foundation
• FJC, a Foundation of Donor Advised Funds
• New York Foundation for Elder Care
• The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
• Wolfensohn Family Foundation
3
JEWISH COMMUNITY COUNCIL
OF GREATER CONEY ISLAND
Senior Citizen Transportation Program
Overview and Statistical Summary Report
4
Senior Citizen Transportation Program
Overview and Statistical Summary Report
CONTENTS
Overview and Statement of Need 6
Who We Serve
8
Program Utilization
9
Program Updates
10
What Our Clients Say 12
Satisfaction Survey Results
15
APPENDIXES
Appendix I: Number of Clients Served by JCCGCI Transportation Program,
FY 1990-2013 19
Appendix II: JCCGCI Transportation Program and Access-a-Ride: A Comparison
20
Appendix III: Satisfaction Survey Details
Appendix IV: Southern Brooklyn Community Shuttle Bus Overview
and Statistics 5
22
24
Overview and Statement of Need
Since 1981, the Jewish Community Council
at home alone, lose contact with friends,
of Greater Coney Island has been making
and may become depressed.
daily life for older adults a lot easier with
homecare, senior center, and related
supportive services. Our professionallyoperated Senior Citizen Transportation
Program adds to these services by
providing
no-cost
transportation
to
enable low-income, functionally impaired
elders to keep medical and entitlement
appointments, go shopping, and attend
senior centers for nutritious meals and
healthy aging programming. Over the
years, our highly acclaimed Transportation
Program has become one of the largest
such programs in New York City.
Because mobility is often one of the
first functions to become impaired with
advancing age, availability of transportation
is essential to an elderly individual’s ability
to continue living independently. Many
elderly people are physically unable to use
access to vital services, prevents isolation,
and facilitates socialization for the elderly,
especially for those with vision or hearing
impairments. In addition to improving the
quality of life of our clients, this service
reduces the exposure and vulnerability
of the elderly to crime, enables them
to continue living at home in their own
communities, prevents or delays the need
for unnecessary, costly institutionalization
and fosters neighborhood stabilization.
JCCGCI provides both demand responsive
individual
car
and
group
van/bus
transportation through subcontracts with
several car, ambulette, and bus service
1
companies
and our own fleet of 16
passenger minibuses. We transport clients
for:
2
subways and buses, and certainly cannot
• Hospitals and clinic visits
afford the cost of private car service.
• Private doctor and dentist
appointments
This problem is exacerbated in areas of
6
Our Transportation Program enables
Brooklyn where, due to the high incidence
• Senior centers
of crime against the elderly, seniors are
• Shopping and banking needs
afraid to travel. As a result they often stay
• Organized group educational and
recreational excursions
provide medical transportation services for
Holocaust Survivors residing throughout
• Appointments at various entitlement
benefit offices
the borough of Brooklyn, under special
funding from the Conference on Jewish
• Interborough trips to medical
specialists and for medical treatment–
(clients must explain the urgency of the
trip and why the trip purpose cannot
be accomplished locally)
Who We Serve
Material Claims Against Germany (Claims
Conference). Survivors must complete
all
forms
medical
and
Form”
which
financial
all
eligibility
Conference.
recommended
Our clients must be over 60 years of age. Conference,
Certification
submit
documentation as required by the Claims
As
They complete and sign a “Client Eligibility
and
services
by
the
for
Claims
Holocaust
Survivors are provided in consultation
documents with a Transportation Advisory Committee
justification
for consisting of the following partner agencies:
service.
Many clients of JCCGCI are of advanced
age or very weak. They are often traveling
to appointments for challenging medical
• Guardians of the Sick/Bikur Cholim
Chesed Organization
• Nachas Health & Family Network
treatments such as dialysis, chemotherapy, • Pesach Tikvah
or radiation and are physically unable to
travel by any other means than door to
door transportation. Other senior clients
• Self Help Kensington Nazi Victim
Services Program
have trouble walking and live too far from • Self Help Brooklyn Holocaust Survivor
Program
the closest bus or subway stop; it is very
difficult or even impossible for them to use
public transportation.
• United Jewish Organizations (UJO) of
Williamsburg
Many JCCGCI clients live alone and have
no family living nearby to help them. They
consider JCCGCI their family and enjoy and
even look forward to the phone calls from
the staff at JCCGCI to arrange, confirm, and
follow-up to ask how their ride was.
In May 2005, the program expanded to
1 Car
service, ambulette, and bus companies
are selected pursuant to a competitive bidding
process and after consultation with the NYC
Transportation and Limousine Commission and
the NY State Department of Transportation.
Clients receiving Medicaid benefits are not
provided with those medically-related trips that
can be obtained through Medicaid.
2
7
JCCGCI Transportation Program
Service Area
Service for Holocaust Survivors is borough-wide.
Services under the New Freedom Grant funding from the Federal Transit
Administration through the New York State Department of Transportation serve the
entire borough of Brooklyn.
The New York City Department for the Aging funds transportation services in
Community Districts 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15.
The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development funds services
in the Neighborhood Development Area (NDA) that generally corresponds with the
Community District 13 boundaries.
8
Program Utilization
In 2013, JCCGCI provided over 4,300 cli-
This was accomplished through our com-
ents with rides to medical appointments,
bined resources of sub-contracts with car,
senior centers, shopping, entitlement
ambulette and bus companies and our
offices, educational, recreational, or other
own fleet of wheelchair accessible 16-pas-
essential sites. These clients received a to-
senger minibuses.
tal of more than 60,100 units of service—
an all-time high for the program (Exhibit
1). About 23,000 of these trips were pro-
In all, nearly 953,000 units of service have
been provided since 1990.
vided to Holocaust Survivors (Exhibit 2).
Exhibit 1: Number of One-Way Trips Provided by
JCCGCI Transportation Program, 1990-2013
9
Exhibit 2: Number of JCCGCI Transportation Program One-Way Medical
Trips Funded by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against
Germany Calendar 2005-2013
Program Updates: Our New Vehicles
On October 29th, 2012, JCCGCI lost one
Cutting Ceremony for two new wheelchair
of its minibuses in Superstorm Sandy.
accessible, 16 passenger minibuses. The
Fortunately, we were awarded funding
funding for these vehicles was earmarked
to purchase other vehicles before and
(in 2005) by Congressman Jerrold Nadler
shortly after that occurred, as discussed
and was administered by the Federal
below. The vehicle was not our only loss;
Transit Administration (FTA), in coopera-
our entire main office and its contents
tion with the New York City Department
were destroyed, leaving only the exterior
for the Aging. JCCGCI is extremely grate-
walls and inside, nothing but sand.
ful for all the assistance provided by Ms.
The New Freedom Grant and Our New
Minibuses
On March 8, 2013 JCCGCI held a Ribbon
10
Maya Kremen, Brooklyn Director of Congressman Jerrold Nadler’s Office.
These vehicles are currently operated
through New Freedom Grant funding
30, 2015 enables JCCGCI to operate these
provided by the FTA through the NYS De-
minibuses and provide transportation ser-
partment of Transportation. New funding
vices to seniors throughout the entire bor-
for January 1, 2013 through September
ough of Brooklyn.
Program Updates:
New Mobility Management Initiatives the
past year include:
• Conducting training workshops at
senior centers
• Training seniors on topics relating to
pedestrian safety
• Addressing how JCCGCI can provide
assistance in the areas of the unmet
transportation needs in Brooklyn
• Coordinating with existing
transportation programs for seniors
• Carrying out various outreach
efforts by meeting with senior
center directors, public officials, and
advertising in local publications
• Ensuring that all drivers receive the
proper training in the areas of vehicle
safety and passenger safety
11
What Our Clients Say
12
What Our Clients Say
I am very grateful to this organization for helping me get to my
doctors for I am totally alone, no
family and very few friends.
The transportation service you provide is crucially
important for us.
I really appreciate when I can
get a car. I have no family close
to help me get to the doctor. I
am on my own.
I appreciate what is given to me. I appreciate
very much that the driver calls me when he is
downstairs (since I cannot stand long without
my walker). Thank you for your “MOST” wonderful service. I wish you all to thank your pleasant
and courteous staff.
The staff in transportation is very helpful
and always tries to get me car service if I need
to go to my doctors. Thank you for offering the
seniors this service.
I appreciate this car service as I am disabled and
require many trips to doctors, which I depend
I wish you could get more
funding as I would like to be
picked up more often.
upon, as many as three doctors a week. I am very
thankful and hope they are not discontinued! I
use a wheel chair. Thanks again!
13
What Our Clients Say
I am homebound, use a cane
or a wheel chair. I may be using a
walker. I can’t walk any more. I am
89 years old and I can’t depend
on Access-A-Ride. God bless you.
Thank you very much.
I bless you every time I use your
‘God’ sent service. I am ninety two
years old. I suffer with a bad heart
condition. I am blind in the right
eye and have an incontinence
condition. You service has added
life and comfort for me.
14
If it was not for the transportation, many
times I would not go out. It means a lot.
I cannot thank the council enough for
your transportation service in my time of
need. I appreciate all the help you have given
me. Your staff is wonderful and very helpful.
Thanks again.
I’m a cancer patient and I have to go for
chemotherapy. I’m a woman alone and I do
thank you for your car service. I don’t know
what I would do without you.
Satisfaction Survey Results
Each year or every other year, JCCGCI’s
was 53% (294 surveys), quite good for a
Transportation Program conducts a client
mail survey.
satisfaction survey. The 2013 survey was
mailed in April 2014 to a sample of 552
clients served from July 1, 2012 through
December 31, 2013. Our response rate
Respondents were quite satisfied with
most aspects of their experience with
the Transportation Program.
• 91% responded that when they call
the Transportation Program office to
schedule or confirm trips, the staff is
Nearly all (97%) of those surveyed are Very
Satisfied (65%) or Satisfied (32%) with the
transportation service overall.
always courteous, while 5% said they
were sometimes courteous
• 86% of respondents reported that
they are picked up on time
• 98% of respondents reported that
15
the drivers were always or sometimes
courteous
• 87% report that the drivers always
(73%) or sometimes (14%) turn on air
conditioning when requested to
• 85% reported that the cars were
always clean, while 12% said they
were sometimes clean
• 70% reported that they are helped
16
in and out of the car by drivers;
some may not need assistance, and
it is harder to control the level of
assistance from subcontracted drivers
Overall satisfaction levels have been
fairly consistent from 2002 through
2013, with more than nine out of ten
of either Very Satisfied or Satisfied
with the transportation service overall.
17
APPENDIX
18
APPENDIX I: Number of Clients Served by JCCGCI Transportation Program
1990-2013
19
APPENDIX II:
JCCGCI’s Senior Citizen Transportation Program vs. Access-A-Ride
JCCGCI’s clients, who are often very
elderly or quite weak, are unable to
stand for long periods of time. They
need to be able to wait where they can
sit comfortably and stay warm (or cool,
• Some report having being taken to
Queens before finally arriving at their
home in Brooklyn hours later.
depending on the season) until the driver
• Many clients live in buildings where
calls to say he has arrived. They also
there is no lobby area to sit and are
cannot physically tolerate lengthy rides
unable to stand on their feet to wait
while other passengers are dropped off,
for their Access-A-Ride pick-up.
particularly after challenging treatments
like chemotherapy.
Access-A-Ride Difficulties
Clients tell the staff at JCCGCI that they
have tried to use the Access-A-Ride
program and they have tremendous
hardships with the program.
Clients also complain that Access-A-Ride
service is unreliable, so they cannot use
it for important medical appointments.
They report situations where the AccessA-Ride they ordered did not show. Finally,
occasionally there are emergencies and
seniors have to take care of an urgent
matter, neither of which Access-A-Ride is
• They wait for hours to see the doctor
equipped to handle. If they are sick and
and when they are finally finished with
cannot keep their appointment they are
their appointment they just need to
penalized by Access-A-Ride, which does
get home.
not call to confirm reservations.
• Some clients go to the doctor on an
empty stomach in order to take tests
and they cannot ride around for hours
20
once testing is done.
JCCGCI Transport More “User-Friendly”
The clients report that the transportation
service provided by the Jewish Community
and transportation are available from
Council of Greater Coney Island is more
JCCGCI, the two departments work
‘user-friendly’ than Access-A-Ride. The
together and arrange for an aide to
clients prefer to use JCCGCI’s service for
accompany the client to the doctor,
the following reasons:
when necessary, so with one phone
• They do not have to reserve their trip
within a certain number of days prior
to the appointment date – they can call
call to our agency the client can
arrange both the ride and the escort.
• The
JCCGCI
application
process
at any time as advance appointments
is simpler and faster. While the
are always welcome. In fact, JCCGCI
application process with Access-A-
encourages clients to call as soon as
Ride can take a few weeks, the JCCGCI
they get their appointment so they do
application can be mailed, faxed, or
not forget to order the transportation.
e-mailed to the client or the client can
Some clients call from the doctor’s
fill it out at our offices or the agency
office immediately after the nurse
which referred them to us. Once
schedules their next appointment to
received, the application is processed
arrange the transportation.
immediately and the client can begin
• In locations where both homecare
to schedule the necessary rides.
21
APPENDIX III: Satisfaction Survey Details
Base for all tables is 166 respondents
Base for all tables is 294 respondents
Timeliness of Pick-up
Response
Pick up is on time
Pick up is delayed
No response
Total
Percentage of
Respondents
86%
7%
6%
100%
Drivers Help Passengers In and Out Of Vehicle
Response
Percentage of
Respondents
Yes
70%
No
8%
No response
22%
Total
100%
Drivers Are Courteous
Response
Always
Sometimes
Never
No response
Total
Percentage of
Respondents
66%
32%
1%
1%
100%
Drivers Turn on Air Conditioning When Asked
Response
Percentage of
Respondents
Always
73%
Sometimes
14%
Never
1%
No response
12%
Total
100%
22
Vehicles are Clean
Response
Always
Sometimes
Never
No response
Total
Percentage of
Respondents
85%
12%
0%
3%
100%
Transportation Department Staff Are
Courteous When Scheduling Trips
Response
Percentage of
Respondents
Always
92%
Sometimes
5%
Never
0%
No response
3%
Total
100%
23
APPENDIX IV: Southern Brooklyn Community Shuttle Bus
The Southern Brooklyn Community Shuttle Bus started its first run in September, 2011. The
Shuttle begins and ends its route in the Sea Gate neighborhood of Coney Island and travels to
Brighton Beach and Borough Park. Since there is no public transportation into Sea Gate (the
B36 bus stops outside the gate of Sea Gate), the Southern Brooklyn Community Shuttle Bus
fulfills multiple critical needs. Since inception, 24,374 rides have been provided to 841 clients.
The Shuttle currently only operates four (4) days a week (this is a result of a reduction in
funding for Fiscal Year 2014). Twelve (12) routes are provided each day.
24
9/6/11 through 12/31/11
Calendar 2012
Calendar 2013
Units of Service
Provided
2,682
7,643 3
13,869
Number of Clients
Served
353
491 4
636
Many depend on the Shuttle to get to their place of employment, school, shopping, and other
appointments.
Many depend on the Shuttle to get to their place of employment, school, shopping,
 other
To access
public transportation, residents of Sea Gate must travel to the gate of Sea
and
appointments.
Gate on West 37th Street for the B36 bus. For the frail elderly, for the disabled, for
• Toyoung
access
publicand
transportation,
residents
of Sea Gate
to conditions,
the gate ofthe
children
even for the general
population
duringmust
poortravel
weather
Sea Gate on West 37th Street for the B36 bus. For the frail elderly, for the disabled,
walk to West 37th Street is difficult and for many, impossible.
for young children and even for the general population during poor weather
 conditions,
Furthermore,
is no
local37th
shopping
Gate. and
Manyfor
residents
travel to Brighton
the there
walk to
West
StreetinisSea
difficult
many, impossible.
Beach or Borough Park for their basic shopping needs.
•  Furthermore,
there
is no local
in Sea
Gate.
Manyinresidents
travel
Moreover, many
children
in Seashopping
Gate attend
private
schools
Borough Park
forto
which
Brighton Beach or Borough Park for their basic shopping needs.
there is no bus service to Sea Gate available, creating a financial and logistical hardship
for numerous
families
whoinstruggle
to bring
their
children
to school.
• Moreover,
many
children
Sea Gate
attend
private
schools
in Borough Park for
no bus service
to Sea
Gate
available,
creating
a financial
and
logistical
 which
Low there
incomeisresidents
of Sea Gate
who
work
in the Borough
Park
area but do
not
own
hardship for numerous families who struggle to bring their children to school.
their own vehicles need assistance traveling to Borough Park in a time-efficient manner.
•
Low income residents of Sea Gate who work in the Borough Park area but do not
own their own vehicles need assistance traveling to Borough Park in a time-efficient
manner.
3
JCCGCI‘s main offices suffered total devastation as a result of Superstorm Sandy. Several Bus Sign-in Sheets were
3
JCCGCI‘s
main
officeswere
suffered
totalindevastation
a result
Several Bus Sign-in Sheets were
lost before
the
statistics
entered
the system,asso
this is of
notSuperstorm
a full countSandy.
of services.
lost before the statistics were entered in the system, so this is not a full count of services.
4
JCCGCI‘s main offices suffered total devastation as a result of Superstorm Sandy. Several Bus Sign-in Sheets were
JCCGCI‘s
main
officeswere
suffered
totalindevastation
a result
Several Bus Sign-in Sheets were
lost4 before
the
statistics
entered
the system,asso
this is of
notSuperstorm
a full countSandy.
of services.
lost before the statistics were entered in the system, so this is not a full count of services.
25
• In addition, student residents of Borough Park travel to Sea Gate to attend
the advanced Yeshiva which is under the administration of the Borough Park
community but is physically located in Sea Gate.
At no cost to Sea Gate residents, the Shuttle Bus drives through Sea Gate six times a
day, picking up residents who need to reach public transportation, those who need to
access shopping in Brighton Beach or Borough Park, children who need to reach their
private schools, and adults who need to reach their places of employment in Borough
Park. The Southern Brooklyn Community Shuttle Bus also transports students from
Borough Park to Sea Gate.
Hence, the Southern Brooklyn Community Shuttle Bus:
• Benefits the residents of Sea Gate who rely on it for access to school, shopping and
employment
• B
enefits the stores of Brighton Beach and Borough Park where Sea Gate residents
shop thanks to the Shuttle Bus
• B
enefits the private schools in Borough Park which are attended by Sea Gate
children who are transported by the Shuttle Bus
• B
enefits the student residents of Borough Park who rely on the Southern Brooklyn
Community Shuttle to travel to their Yeshiva in Sea Gate
JCCGCI and the clients of the Southern Brooklyn Community Shuttle Bus are greatly
indebted to Councilmember Michael C. Nelson and Councilmember Domenic M.
Recchia Jr. for initiating support for this program and look forward to continued
support from Councilmember Mark Treyger, Councilmember Chaim M. Deutsch,
Councilmember David G. Greenfield and Councilmember Brad Lander.
26
27
Jewish Community Council
of Greater Coney Island
Senior Citizen Transportation Program
3001 West 37th Street | Brooklyn, NY 11224
Phone: 718-449 5000 Ext 1
www.jccgci.org/senior-transportation
[email protected]