叠.颁.害羞草研究所檚 is asking 30,000  HandyDART users how well the service is helping them meet their transportation needs.

HandyDART is a door-to-door service provided by TransLink, BC Transit, and their service providers for passengers with physical or cognitive disabilities who are unable to use conventional public transit without assistance.

Recipients of the survey can either complete it on paper or fill it out online. Surveys should be completed and returned by Nov. 7. Results of the survey will help inform the Seniors Advocate害羞草研究所檚 overall review of seniors害羞草研究所� transportation issues.

The survey asks a range of questions starting with what people think of the application process, the availability of rides, the cost of the service, as well as overall satisfaction levels. To ensure statistical integrity, a sample of every other client will be surveyed on Vancouver Island, the Okanagan, and the Lower Mainland, while for the other three regions that offer service, all clients will be surveyed.

The questions for the survey were developed through a consultation process that included users of HandyDART, service funders as well as front-line staff. 害羞草研究所淚n any of these surveys it is important that we are asking the right questions and involving those who both use and deliver the service ensures we don害羞草研究所檛 miss anything important,害羞草研究所� said Mackenzie. 害羞草研究所淓nsuring a standardized approach to questions is also key to understanding the overall system and allows us to compare results from different parts of the province.害羞草研究所�

The majority of HandyDART users, approximately 73 per cent, are 65 or older. Last year 2.37 million rides were provided, with 51 per cent of them in the Lower Mainland.

害羞草研究所淭ransportation is identified as a key issue for seniors,害羞草研究所� said seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie noting that at age 65, 76 per cent of seniors have an active driver害羞草研究所檚 license, and that drops to 34 per cent for those over 85. 害羞草研究所淐learly we need to ensure a robust transportation system is in place for seniors, most of who are still active, but may no longer be able to drive. HandyDART is part of that system and we need to ask the people who are using the service how well it is meeting their overall transportation needs,害羞草研究所� said Mackenzie.

害羞草研究所淚 want to thank those who have been involved in developing the survey and I really want to thank those who are going to take the time to fill out the survey,害羞草研究所� said Mackenzie. 害羞草研究所淓veryone害羞草研究所檚 time is valuable but we need to hear from those who are using the service about both what could be improved and what areas are working well.害羞草研究所�

The Office of the Seniors Advocate is an independent office of the provincial government with a mandate of monitoring seniors害羞草研究所� services and publicly reporting on systemic issues affecting seniors. The Office also provides information and referral: toll-free 1-877-952-3181 or by visiting: www.seniorsadvocatebc.ca