For some older adults in South Hillsborough County, getting to a doctor’s appointment can be much more complicated than simply getting behind the wheel.
When seniors no longer drive, live alone or have family members who live far away, something as routine as a medical appointment can become a major obstacle. Missed appointments, delayed treatment and increased isolation can be the result.
Seniors in Service is working to remove that barrier through its Companion Transportation Program, which provides free transportation and companionship to older adults in South Hillsborough County.
Through the program, volunteers age 55 and older provide rides to medical appointments and, when requested, can accompany seniors inside. Volunteers may take notes, help ask questions, pick up prescriptions or simply provide reassurance during what can be a stressful experience.
The program launched in 2025 and has already provided more than 500 rides, helping seniors get to surgeries, specialist appointments, treatments and routine medical care.
Support from AdventHealth and Community Foundation Tampa Bay makes the service available at no cost to participating seniors. A minivan donated by AdventHealth also allows volunteers to transport seniors throughout the Tampa Bay region.
For some participants, the service has been life-changing.
When one couple needed transportation to an early-morning heart surgery follow-up appointment, the patient’s wife was experiencing severe anxiety and was unable to drive. After arriving safely, she told the volunteer, “We didn’t know who to turn to. You saved us.”
In another case, a veteran living alone needed transportation to surgery at Tampa General Hospital. Despite multiple schedule changes, a volunteer continued to show up, ensuring he was able to receive the medical care he needed.
Seniors in Service is now seeking additional volunteers age 55 and older to help meet the growing need.
The organization said volunteering can provide benefits beyond helping others, including opportunities to build connections, stay active and find a renewed sense of purpose in the community.
Those interested in volunteering as a Companion Transportation driver or seniors seeking transportation assistance can learn more through Seniors in Service’s SouthShore program coordinator Michelle Mason.
Since 1984, Seniors in Service has mobilized older adults to serve children, seniors, veterans and families throughout Tampa Bay. Today, more than 1,900 volunteers contribute more than 360,000 hours of service annually.
For information, visit the Seniors in Service SouthShore volunteer page at https://seniorsinservice.org/companion-services/south-shore-community/ or contact Mason at 813-492-8920.
