Village Resources

Learn about the Village model

Villages are grass-roots, neighborhood focused organizations that provide various services for senior members

• Learn about the Village model from the Village to Village Network.
• Learn about local DC Villages from AARP.

Learn how to start a Village

• 43 page (2011) Bethesda/Chevy Chase Regional Service Center publication entitled, “Village Blue Print: Building a Community for All Ages.”
• Free and member resources from the Village to Village Network.

Find a Village

• Find an existing Village through the Village to Village Network.

DC Metro Area Parking Permits for Drivers with Disabilities

These permits, placards, or plates allow drivers to park in specially marked parking spaces for people with disabilities.

DC Parking Permits

• Learn about DC’s program.
• Learn how to apply for a permit.

Maryland Parking Permits

• Learn about Maryland’s program.
• Learn how to apply for a permit.

Virginia Parking Permits

• Learn about Virginia’s program.
• Learn how to apply for a permit.

Vehicle Modification Resources

1. Free federal publication, “Adapting Motor Vehicles for Older Drivers.”
2. Federal article, “Adapting Motor Vehilces for People with Disabilities.”
3. List, of funding sources for vehicle modification, from Easter Seals.

Free Travel Training for Older DC Residents

Free travel training for older DC residents and DC residents with disabilities is available from the DC Center for Independent Living.  Participants will learn how to use Metro buses and subway trains, as well as learn about reduced fares for seniors and persons with disabilities.  For more information, contact Stephen Agyeman at 202-280-6893 or Mary Beth Fox-Grimm at 202-280-6899.

Transportation Referrals

DC, MD, VA

• Iona Information & Referral (202-895-9448) provides information on private, subsidized, and public transportation options for seniors throughout the DC metro area.
• Find transportation resources in Iona’s Free Resource Guide.  To request a free copy, call Iona Information & Referral at 202-895-9448.

MD

• Montgomery County’s Connect-A-Ride (301-738-3252) provides transportation referrrals to private, volunteer, and public transportation in Montgomery County seniors and persons with disabilities.
• 2010 edition of Montgomery County’s “Transportation Options for Seniors & People with Disabilities.”

Wheelchair Accessible Taxis

Wheelchair accessible taxi service is available in most parts of the DC metro area.

• (DC) – Learn about DC’s accessible taxi’s from this 1/15/10 press release.
• (MD) – Learn about accessible taxis in Montgomery County.
• (VA) – Blue Top , Red Top, and Yellow Cab (703-522-2222) taxi companies provide accessible cabs in Arlington County.

Iona Information & Referral specialists are available Monday through Friday (9am to 5pm) at 202-895-9448 or info@Iona.org to help identify aging-related resources for you and your loved ones.

Medical Escorts (subsidized or low-cost) in DC, MD, and VA

Medical escorts accompany seniors to and from medical appointments.  Some escort services provide transportation; other services  provide only the escort, who rides with the senior on pre-arranged transportation.

• (DC) – Home Care Partners, through their “CREST” program, provides subsidized aides, who escort DC seniors to and from medical appointments and provide personal care.   Note:  Aides do NOT provide transportation.  For more information, call  202-638-0736.
• (DC) – So Others Might Eat’s Interfaith  Volunteer Caregivers Program provides volunteer medical escorts to DC seniors living in Wards 6, 7, and 8.  For more information, call 202-581-8000.
• (MD) – Bethesda Helps provides volunteer medical escorts for seniors who reside in southern Montgomery County.  For more information, see their website or call 301-365-2022.
• (MD) – Senior Connection provides volunteer medical escorts to Montgomery County seniors.  For more information, see their website or call 301-962-0820.
• (VA) – The American Red Cross in Arlington provides volunteer medical and grocery drivers for Arlington seniors.  For more information, see their website or call Angela Shivers at 703-841-2747.
• (national) – Disabled American Veterans organizes volunteer medical escorts for veterans needing rides to Veterans Administration facilities.

Learn about other transportation options from Iona’s free Resource Guide.  To receive a free copy of our Resource Guide, or to ask about other aging-related resources, phone Iona Information & Referral at 202-895-9448.

Evaluating a senior’s driving

Self Evaluations – Several organizations publish self-evaluation tests, including AAA and the University of Michigan.

Professional Evaluations – The American Occupational Therapy Association and the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists each maintain databases of professionals trained in driver evaluations.

Call or email Iona Information & Referral (202-895-9448; info@Iona.org) for answers to aging-related resource questions.