The Kaua‘i Bus needs flexibility for senior needs
Letter to Kaua‘i Transportation Agency – The Kaua‘i Bus
Management is clueless as to the needs of their kupuna (elderly) clientele.
For example: I am 87 years with cartilage-less right shoulder and right knee, forced to use a cane with COPD due to allergy to parrot dander. On Thursday, May 12, I took paratransit to urgent care on Pahe‘e Street (no local bus stop there yet) at 10 a.m.
As I checked in, I was advised the wait would be one hour. “Fine, I have a good book I’m reading now.” My highly engorged carbuncle would need to subside.
At 11:25 a.m. I got up from the metal bench to enter the facilities as I was asked to do. Following the usual procedures, I was told the doctor would be in to me soon; time 11:35 a.m.
However, my scheduled paratransit pickup was 12 noon, meaning the punctual driver would probably be arriving by 11:45 a.m. for the 12 noon pickup.
No miracle medicine could be performed for my infection in 10 minutes! When I called The Kaua‘i Bus about my dilemma, the operator said perhaps they could re-schedule for a delay of one hour.
When I asked if they would notify me on my simple cell phone, not my home land line, even though they will accept only one telephone number per customer, she said “no.”
As you can plainly see, notifying my home, Lihu‘e residence line while I am in Puhi serves no use to anyone, except perhaps to Hawaiian Telcom and their telephone lines.
The only action left for me was to request my co-pay refunded and walk-out to “doctor” myself at home.
The paratransit bus arrived five minutes later, 11:45 a.m. and I returned home.
The drivers on the paratransit lines were very helpful, especially Herb on the return trip.
Conclusion: Schedule three hours for a trip to urgent care.
Wake up, The Kaua‘i Bus management, to reality: some of us are analog people who cannot use an iPhone, physically impossible in my case, and PLEASE think outside the box when dealing with us seniors.
Alice Parker, Lihu‘e
I’ve been fighting paratransit for almost two years now because they won’t come to my home; they say my road is too rough and the bumps will knock other passengers, who should be seat-belted in, to fall off the seats. I have artificial knees and am a Senior citizen. There’s a steep hill at the bottom of my road, only about one house-length long, that I can’t maneuver. Physical therapy came out a couple of months back and we worked on that spot but he said I shouldn’t even try it so I’m stuck at home, depending on others to help me. The bus will pick me up at the bottom of that hill but I’ve tried with a cane and a rollator to navigate it to no avail. My doctors and my PT have all submitted letters to the bus to no avail.
***please don’t share my name
Dearest fellow senior Wahine, Kupuna, friends and family,
Medicare and Medicaid are better than ever at providing ground transport to medical appointments so call the number on your insurance card and speak to your customer service provider in person to arrange for help.
Also getting support from NGO such as Catholic Charities or others is helpful so the PEOPLE WHO ARE MISSING THE BUS (due to lack of training or caring) BUT RUNNING THE COUNTY ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
I am also looking for a volunteer or home health aid to assist me so maybe more help is on the way???? What happened to adopt a Kupuna programs?