How HopSkipDrive is Helping Denver Area Older Adults Reach Their Highest Potential
Summary
HopSkipDrive is driven by a key part of its mission: to use technology, operational expertise, and new thinking to help kids reach their full potential by providing a safe, dependable way to help them get where they need to be. Often sought out as an alternative transportation solution for families, schools, and foster youth, a lesser-known part of HopSkipDrive’s business focuses on providing the same option but designed for older adults.
In 2019, HopSkipDrive partnered with the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) to provide senior citizens with a flexible, reliable, easy-to-use transportation solution that enabled greater independence for Denver area older adults.
“I appreciate HopSkipDrive’s response today with being able to bring one of our clients (older adults) home.”
—Travis Noon, Senior Program Specialist,
Denver Regional Council of Governments
Challenges
Prior to using HopSkipDrive, DRCOG was experiencing an overflow of demand that its current set of human service transportation providers could not fulfill. They scheduled around 8,000 monthly trips; however, about 200 of those trip requests were getting declined each month. Not only were these options costly, but they also didn’t have the flexibility or accessibility that a ride-hailing service could provide, barring some older adults from being able to participate in personal activities and family visits.
“I heard from the staff that one of them uses the services to go volunteer at an animal shelter every Friday, but because of the (corona)virus and because he was over 70, out of concern for his safety they wouldn’t let him volunteer today. Instead of him being stuck there, I appreciate HopSkipDrive being able to pull together with the driver and get him back home immediately.”
—Travis Noon, Senior Program Specialist,
Denver Regional Council of Governments
How HopSkipDrive Helped
HopSkipDrive worked with the DRCOG team to pilot an Enterprise platform, which enabled employees to book rides directly for seniors and provided end-to-end visibility into Rides, with an easy two-step process. HopSkipDrive’s flexibility supported the overflow of requests that would previously have been declined. Since then, HopSkipDrive has been an asset for the senior community of Denver by providing a high level of care and compassion.
Results, ROI, and Future Plans
Since partnering with HopSkipDrive in May 2019, DRCOG has been able to fulfill over 4,400 rides, with over 450 active riders using the service. Between September 2019 and February 2020, ride volume increased by an average of 40%, with the strongest month over month transitions being September/October (102%+) and November/December (55%+).
In the wake of COVID-19, HopSkipDrive is continuing to strategize and help the DRCOG team fulfill requests for Meals on Wheels delivery, medical appointments, taking seniors to the grocery store, and restaurant pickups. HopSkipDrive’s goal is to continue to support DRCOG’s initiatives and be a partner to foster personal mobility, growth, and development within the Denver older adult community.
Interested in learning more about how your organization, school, or district can partner with HopSkipDrive?
