Caregivers In South Dakota: Things To Do When Arranging Transportation
Caregiving comes with several challenges, one of which is transportation. Many people who need in-home care cannot drive, and they may also struggle to use public transportation. They may need accessible options for a wheelchair or other mobility devices.
If you provide care as a family or paid caregiver, part of your role might include finding and managing transportation options. Your care recipient can benefit from transportation for running errands and going to medical appointments. They can also use transportation to do fun activities and to socialize. Outdoor recreation may even be possible.
In this article, we’ll outline what you need to know about arranging transportation for a care recipient:
- Determining your care recipient’s special travel needs
- Outlining and choosing from among several transportation options in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and other locations
- Planning in advance and preparing your care recipient for trips
- Plus, some fun things you can do with your care recipient if you have access to good transportation
If you’re looking for more caregiving information and live in South Dakota, you have free access to Trualta resources. Check to see if you have free access, using this link if you live in another state.
Know Your Care Recipient’s Needs & Preferences
The first step in getting transportation for your care recipient is to understand what they need. You should also consider their preferences. They may be able to use the bus but prefer another option, for example.
Talk to your care recipient and their medical team to understand how their limitations affect their ability to use transportation. Some needs are obvious. If your care recipient uses a wheelchair, they need an option that can accommodate it. They may be able to walk but still need help getting in and out of vehicles. Finances may also be a limitation.
Here are some important considerations and questions to ask as you arrange transportation:
- Do they need to travel with a mobility device?
- What else do they need to travel with that might need extra space or storage considerations?
- Can a wheelchair be folded and stored, or do they need to be in it at all times?
- Can they climb stairs?
- Can they get in and out of a vehicle without assistance?
- How often will they need access to a bathroom?
- How much can they afford to pay for transportation?
- Will Medicaid or Medicare cover any costs of medical transportation?
Know Your Options
Next, figure out the options. There are probably many more transportation options than you realize.
Drive Yourself
If you have your own vehicle, can you drive your care recipient to activities and appointments? Your care recipient must be able to get in and out of your vehicle. Your vehicle should be safe and insured.
Use Public Transportation
Public transportation systems are great travel options for many people. It’s an inexpensive choice, but mostly useful if your care recipient lives in a city like Sioux Falls or Rapid City.
Paratransit options are also available. Your city transportation system must offer paratransit rides that accommodate special needs. Your care recipient must be eligible under Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines to qualify for services.
Contact Sioux Area Metro Paratransit in Sioux Falls for door-to-door transportation throughout the area. In Rapid City, the Rapid Transit System’s Dial-A-Ride offers door-to-door rides.
Use Ride Share Services
Services like Uber and Lyft provide on-demand, paid rides in most areas. Sioux Falls and other cities should have plenty of ride-share options.
Many also have special services, like the Uber Caregiver program. The program allows the caregiver to create a special account to manage rides. This allows you and your care recipient to coordinate ride schedules and payments. You can schedule rides in advance or use the app on demand as usual.
Try Medicaid Transportation Services
If your care recipient is eligible for Medicaid, they can get rides to and from healthcare providers. Rules vary by state, so check with the South Dakota Medicaid office. Whether you live in Sioux Falls or a more rural area, transportation is available to those who qualify.
Contact The South Dakota Department Of Human Services (DHS)
The South Dakota DHS partners with the Department of Transportation to provide free rides to eligible residents. The program allows some care recipients to use local transportation services, like paratransit, for free. Contact the DHS to find out if your care recipient qualifies.
For Longer Trips
You may need to arrange longer trips for a care recipient. These trips can be for visiting loved ones or just for fun and to see the sites. For example, your care recipient may need help planning travel for a fun trip to see the state’s national parks or national monuments.
A disability shouldn’t prevent your care recipient from activities like seeing the sites. State treasures like Badlands National Park or Mount Rushmore National Monument are for everyone. Airlines and local transportation once you arrive can accommodate people with mobility issues. Greyhound also has several stops in South Dakota and serves individuals with disabilities.
Make Arrangements In Advance
Once you have good transportation options, you can plan your travel. While public transportation and ride-sharing can be used on demand, it’s often best to plan in advance.
Make arrangements for transportation as far in advance as you can. This will ensure a smoother experience and ensure your care recipient is on time for important medical appointments. Making arrangements early also allows you to make alternative plans if necessary.
Prepare Your Care Recipient To Travel
Also important to do is to make sure your care recipient is ready for the journey. From a short trip to the doctor to a vacation to Custer State Park, preparation makes it easier:
- Explain all the details of the trip to your care recipient so they know what to expect.
- Bring items to distract them if they might get anxious about traveling, like games or a book.
- Pack a bag with their medications and any food or water they need.
- Make sure you have contact information for their doctors and a list of their medical needs in case something happens to you.
- If possible, plan a second travel option in case the first one falls through.
Find Fun Things To Do
Once you have transportation for your care recipient, what will you do? A lot of your transportation needs are practical. Your care recipient needs to get to their doctor appointments and to stores. But, they can also use transportation for fun activities and sightseeing.
South Dakota has a lot of rugged wilderness. The state is full of national parks and national monuments, beautiful national forests, state parks, and other scenic areas. Many of these rugged areas are difficult to access, but not impossible.
South Dakota has accessible areas that allow people with limited mobility to see the beautiful scenery in a national park or state park. You can also use transportation to enjoy local activities.
Here are some ideas of fun things you can do in South Dakota once you have a way to get there:
Visit South Dakota National Parks, National Forests & National Monuments
South Dakota is rich in natural beauty, which is why it has so many national parks and national monuments. The western part of the state, in particular, has a lot of scenic spots and parks:
- Badlands National Park
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Wind Cave National Park
- Black Hills National Forest
The Black Hills area is also home to several other tourist attractions: Hill City, the Wild West town of Deadwood, Spearfish Canyon, Black Elk Peak, Hot Springs, and Bear Country USA.
The National Park Service and many of these attractions prioritize accessibility. Contact each park or site to ask about accommodations.
Visit South Dakota State Parks & Local Parks
Outside of the National Park system, South Dakota also has many local and state parks worth visiting. Custer State Park is high on many people’s lists and includes accessible options. Custer State Park has many sites to see: Sylvan Lake, Black Elk Peak, and several paved, accessible trails.
Bear Butte State Park is of spiritual importance to several Native American tribes and has beautiful scenery. Palisades State Park is closer to Sioux Falls and has a unique landscape.
You can also stay in your area to enjoy the nature of South Dakota. Downtown Sioux Falls is home to Falls Park, a beautiful area of natural waterfalls. Sioux Falls also has Arrowhead Park, which is great for bird-watching.
Take A Scenic Drive
A scenic drive is a great way to see the state’s natural beauty if your care recipient has mobility issues. Some of the must-see drives in South Dakota include:
- Needles Highway
- Iron Mountain Road
- Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway
- Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway
- Badlands National Park Loop State Scenic Byway
Go To A Museum
South Dakota has many great museums. Try local museums you and your care recipients can get to easily, like the Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City or the Pettigrew Home & Museum in Sioux Falls.
If you can travel farther and love history, the Indian Museum of North America is a gem. It showcases hundreds of Native American tribes. It’s affiliated with the Crazy Horse Memorial, a Native American alternative to Mount Rushmore. The Pioneer Museum in Hot Springs is also fun for history buffs.
If your care recipient loves paleontology and fossils, consider the Mammoth Site. Located in Hot Springs, it has a museum and an active field site.
Arranging transportation for a care recipient is a common task for caregivers. If you live in South Dakota, you have many options. Use the resources to keep your care recipient active and safe.
If you’re looking for more caregiving information and live in South Dakota, you have free access to Trualta resources. Check to see if you have free access, using this link if you live in another state.
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