Community Commentary:

Imagine being unable to drive yourself to a dialysis appointment three times a week. Imagine planning to take the medical van to the hospital only to find that the bus is already packed and can hold no more riders. Imagine having no friends who drive and no family members in the area. And imagine being too poor to pay for a taxi or other fee-based transportation.

This scenario is reality for many impoverished Costa Mesa seniors.

Seniors in Costa Mesa can access bus transportation five days per week, eight hours per day, from their home to medical appointments, dialysis, prescription pick-up and other medical-related destinations. This service is funded by the Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian Department of Community Medicine to the Costa Mesa Senior Center for the past several years.

They also funded a second bus that operated Tuesdays Wednesdays and Thursdays to absorb the overflow of the first bus. The bus is continually filled all three days, attesting to the need for this supplemental transportation service. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, the foundation is no longer able to underwrite this bus service.

Costa Mesa Senior Center is seeking to address this critical need. The board has agreed that the center will provide interim funding for the second bus until the end of the year with the stipulation that additional funds will be solicited from the community to provide this much-needed service into the future, a service that is critically important to the health of the community.

The cost of having medical transportation services three days per week, eight hours per day, is $4,500 per month. The transportation is offered at no charge. Because the majority of seniors are struggling to survive on Social Security or meager pensions, their transportation options are very limited.

The city bus may require many stops and changes along the way, making the trip tiring and difficult for older adults.

The Orange County Transportation Authority Access Service has a screening process and applicants must meet the Americans with Disabilities Act eligibility criteria. Access charges $5.50 for each round trip, a cost that is prohibitive for seniors who have multiple weekly appointments such as dialysis patients.

Costa Mesa Senior Center is requesting that local businesses, organizations and individuals give thoughtful consideration to making a contribution that will positively impact the health and well-being of some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

AVIVA GOELMAN is the director of the Costa Mesa Senior Center.