Geer Village launches new transportation program

NORTH CANAAN — With the support of community partners, Geer Village Senior Community has launched GO Geer, an on-demand transportation service for elderly and disabled individuals and focused on serving individuals with non-emergency medical or basic needs rides in and around the downtown Torrington and Winsted areas.

Similar to Dial-a-Ride, this program provides rides to people over the age of 60 or disabled. The difference is that rides can be requested the same day, up to 30 minutes before the ride is needed, no need to schedule a ride months in advance.

To accommodate as many individuals as possible, the area where rides can occur is confined to the major downtown areas but also goes between Torrington and Winsted. Rides typically take less than one half hour from beginning to end.

Service hours are designed to wrap around traditional transportation program hours and start as early as 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Go Geer uses a Toyota min-van which is equipped with a ramp to accommodate wheelchairs and is easy to get in and out of for older riders.

“This new service has the ability to transform the way that transportation is provided to some of our most vulnerable citizens and make accessing vital healthcare easier and less stressful. We are so appreciative of the support from our major funders to start this new service - the Northwest Building Healthier Communities Fund, a fund of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation and the Connecticut Office of Rural Health”, said Kevin O’Connell.

For more details about the service, call 860-453-4800 or go to www.geercares.org/transportation.