By enabling freedom of movement, seniors and people with disabilities can stay involved in their community, with less reliance on family or friends. Some senior centers and adult day care centers provide transportation to and from their facilities, and offer planned excursions and trips to destinations such as grocery stores and medical appointments.

Publicly funded Dial-a-Ride programs, typically provided using vans or minibuses, offer pick-up and drop-off at a person?s home but may require advance reservations.

The ambulette, a new concept that offers a low-cost alternative to ambulances, provides non-emergency medical transportation for physical therapy, dialysis, chemotherapy and other long term care programs.

Check with your local public transportation agencies to obtain schedules and fees for buses and trains. In addition, find out from your local senior and adult day care centers what transportation services they provide, and at what cost. In evaluating a private transportation service, you may wish to print out copies of GetCare.com's "Transportation Service" checklist, which provides detailed questions to help you compare different services.

Local transportation services often receive federal money to serve elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities. Additionally, public transportation is usually provided to senior citizens at a reduced cost. Transportation provided by a senior or adult day care center is often either free, or calculated on an individual's level of income.