American Cancer Society – Road to Recovery test
Every day thousands of cancer patients need a ride to treatment, but some may not have a way to get there. The American Cancer Society Road To Recovery program provides transportation to and from treatment for people with cancer who do not have a ride or are unable to drive themselves.
Essential Transportation for Seniors
Services are provided through each individual town to assist seniors with door to door transportation for essential services such as medical appointments and shopping. In general the vehicles do not cross town boundaries and medical appointments have priority. Since they are used so often, it is advisable to make a reservation two weeks in advance. Below you will find a few helpful numbers for each town to assist you in your search. Just ask for Essential Transportaion when contacting them.
Suffolk
- Town of Babylon – 631-422-7618
- Town of Islip – 631-224-5686
- Town of Southampton – 631-728-1110
- Town of Brookhaven – 631-451-6126
- Town of Riverhead – 631-722-4444 ext 290
- Town of Southold – 631-298-4460
- Town of East Hampton – 631-324-4443
- Town of Shelter Island – 631-749-1059
- Town of Huntington – 631-427-8287
- Town of Smithtown – 631-265-8811
Nassau County
- City of Glen Cove – 516-676-6182
- City of Long Beach – 516-431-1000 ext 326
- Town of Oyster Bay – 516-797-7900
- Town of Hempstead – 516-485-8100
- Town of North Hempstead – 516-869-7715
Air Ambulance
Companies that will either provide you with your own plane or set you up in a commercial carrier for medical transportation.
Able-Ride/Paratransit Program
Curb to Curb transportation for anyone who is physically or mentally unable to use public transportation. seniors must complete application. The fee is $3.50 each way. Personal care attendants may ride at no charge.
947 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530
Lakeville Ambulette Transportation, LIC
They offer the patients and residents of Parker Jewish Institute and Queens Long Island Renal Institute, as well as adults in the communities, nursing homes, and health care facilities of New York City and Long Island, efficient, sensitive and professional transportation to medical appointments, nursing homes and related destinations.
1 Old Country Rd Suite 421, Carle Place, NY 11514
Long Island Rail Road
Seniors age 65 and over may use their Medicare cards, driver’s license, or birth certificate to receive half fare as long as it is not for trains arriving in NYC between 6 am and 10 am.
Medicaid Transportation for Suffolk
Persons with an active case of Medicaid and medical needs may get help with transportation to and from health care providers (doctor, clinic hospital, etc.). All trips require prior approval. The change to Servisair LLC has been challenging with long hold times.
Suffolk County
Nassau County
Medicaid Transportation
States are required under federal regulation to provide transportation for Medicaid beneficiaries to and from medical services. For the Medicaid population, getting to and from medical services can be a struggle. New York State made the decision to cover medical transportation for Medicaid beneficiaries traveling to Medicaid-covered services. If you are Medicaid eligible, visit the above website to find out how to arrange transportation in your county to and from your medical appointments.
The Life Enrichment Center at Oyster Bay
Provides medical transportation for seniors in the Oyster Bay area. Appointments must be made at least one week in advance.
45 East Main Street, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
PALS SkyHope
Arrange FREE air transportation for patients (children and seniors) in need of medical diagnosis or treatment. Pilots donate their time and planes for Medical Missions, Compassion Missions, and Humanitarian Missions.
7110 Republic Airport #202, Farmingdale, NY 11735 (Located in Republic Airport)
Project Independence/Town of North Hempstead
Free taxi transportation for residents age 60 and older for food shopping on designated days between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Discounted taxi rides for non-emergency medical, dental, and treatment appointments within the Town and to certain locations outside the Town. Some bus service to senior centers and special events.
Road to Recovery
A volunteer transportation program is available to cancer patients undergoing radiation or chemotherapy treatment. Five days’ notice is required, and transport is based on the availability of volunteers. Taxi service is also available. Available to residents in Suffolk County. The patient must be ambulatory
5 Davids Drive, Hauppauge, NY 11788
800-227-2345 (Information line available 24/7)
Suffolk County Accessible Transportation (SCAT)
Curb to curb transportation for anyone who is physically or mentally unable to use public transportation. Seniors must complete an application. In addition to the curb-to-curb service they always provide their riders, Suffolk County Accessible Transportation (SCAT) will also offer Origin to Destination service. Service will allow SCAT drivers to provide basic additional assistance to para-transit riders between curbside and building entrances. To receive such assistance, passengers must request it at the time they reserve their trip. Certain restrictions apply. For an application, call 631-853-8333. To schedule an appointment, call 631-738-1150.
Taxi Services
Some taxi companies in Nassau and Suffolk County offer a 10% discount off regular fares to senior citizens in some communities. Seniors must identify themselves when ordering and have identification.
Transportation to Appointments
Some local offices for the aging and senior centers offer transportation to doctor appointments, nutrition sites, shopping or other vital destinations. Contact your local office for the aging or senior center to find out what may be available in your community.
Wantagh utilizes volunteers to provide transportation to seniors. Wantagh, North Wantagh, and Bellmore.
516-861-6032
New Hyde Park and Garden City
516-692-2123
Transportation Discounts
Many public transportation systems offer discounts for older New Yorkers. New York City, for example, has reduced fares for subway and buses. Residents 65 and older must show their Medicare card or other proof of age to obtain a Reduced Fare Metro Card. For information, contact the New York City Department for the Aging at 311. To determine if you can get discounts, contact your local office for the aging or local transportation system. Anyone planning extensive travel should check with their travel agent or the carrier to see if they offer discounts for older New Yorkers.
Older Driver Safety
Driving is a critical part of our daily lives – our lifeline, ensuring we can pick up groceries, see our family, get to work, and visit our doctors. Various health conditions and declines in visual, thinking, and physical abilities that occur with aging can affect driving ability. If you take multiple medications to help those conditions, you could be putting yourself and others in danger. To learn more about older drive safety, visit the website above.
Personal Identification Card
For older New Yorkers who do not drive or have never driven, a non-driver photo identification card may be purchased from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Some local offices for the aging may also provide identification cards. Call your local office for aging to ask if they have such a program.