Transportation services help empower older adults in Idaho
At 90 years old, Frank Waga of St. Maries, Idaho, still finds joy in the little things: the scent of fresh soil, the burst of color from blooming flowers and the satisfaction of a well-tended garden. It’s a passion he once shared with his late wife, and one he’s determined to keep alive — with a little help from a friend and a community program that’s made all the difference.
Frank lives with his longtime roommate and advocate, 83-year-old Pat Milliken. For the past seven years, the two have shared a mission to help Frank stay independent, active and connected to the world around him.
But that mission became more challenging a few years ago when Frank made the difficult decision to stop driving.
“I’m on medication … they tell me not to drive,” Frank said. “My eyes, they water so much. They get blurry. So, I just kind of quit driving. I’ve kept my license, but I depend on Pat to do all my driving for me.”
The UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Idaho is working with the Area Agency on Aging of North Idaho to help support older adults with transportation barriers. A $45,000 investment from UnitedHealthcare helped expand a transportation program that focuses on helping older adults stay connected in the community.
The program provides eligible individuals aged 60 or over who can no longer drive themselves an opportunity to pay a friend or family member to take them where they need to go and be reimbursed.
The program is self-directed, allowing the participant to manage their needs as they see fit.1 This means they have the freedom and choice to decide how these services are provided — through a ride-share app, public transportation vouchers, or a friend or family member that can help transport them.
This could include working with a driver to not only get from one place to another, but to help with preparing for appointments, meet up with friends, or — in Frank’s case — visiting a garden center to get flowers.
“I feel it’s worth it to me and it’s helping … we have a lot of trips back and forth to the doctors all the time. I have to use my walker all the time, and it’s really a good thing (the transportation program) helps,” Frank said.
Since working with UnitedHealthcare beginning in July 2025, the transportation program has facilitated over 5,500 rides transporting more than 35 seniors in need over 50,000 miles, totaling over 4,400 hours in travel assistance.
A lack of safe, reliable transportation can impact everyone, but more notably older adults, individuals with disabilities and people who have a lower income.2 It can also limit access to receiving health care services, social interactions and the ability to get nutritious food.2
Offering older adults a program that helps them manage their own transportation needs can help address these issues, as well as provide a sense of independence.
“I believe the fact that Frank can get out and go out and go places helps to keep him going,” Pat said. “It gives him a positive outlook.”
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