Drive Happiness

Overview:

Between October 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026, a total of 88 volunteer drivers in the greater Edmonton region completed 7,326 rides for 541 riders. Over the six-month period, several trends emerged that speak to both the evolving needs of older adults and the changing demands placed on the Seniors Assisted Transportation Program (SATP).

Trends:

The average age of a Drive Happiness rider in Edmonton is 79 years old. A consistent pattern of the program is a higher proportion of female riders to male, with 78% of riders in the timeframe being female. 66% of active riders reported living alone, which highlights the importance of reliable, affordable transportation in supporting social connection and community participation.

Approximately 70% of clients accessing the SATP would be classified as low-income earners, while the program also saw an increase in riders referred through the Social Prescribing and Seniors Coordinated Outreach programs–an indicator of growing community reliance on the program.

Rides for medical purposes remained the most significant need, accounting for 43% of all trips. This was followed by programming (19%), grocery shopping/delivery & banking (14%), and visits with family and friends (11%) as the most common reasons for needing a ride. Notably, 21% of all rides in the greater Edmonton region were out-of-town trips, compared to over 80% of rides in regions like Red Deer County, Smoky Lake, and even Airdrie. These trips typically require more time, fuel, and flexibility from volunteers—factors that can make volunteer recruitment and retention more difficult. That being said, 97% of rides in the Red Deer zone were completed successfully between October 1/2025 and March 31/2026, indicating the commitment of volunteer drivers, and the increasing desire and support for older adults to age in place, even in rural communities. Broader challenges related to staffing and funding also continue to shape program limitations and overall service availability.

Challenges:

This reporting period continued to highlight ongoing challenges related to volunteer consistency and retention. While demand for service is increasing, volunteer growth is not keeping pace. In the Edmonton zone alone, 374 new riders were added during this timeframe, compared with just 17 new volunteers. On average, the program receives 60 new rider applications per month in Edmonton alone, yet only 2.8 volunteers are onboarded in the same span. This widening gap directly affects service capacity and response times.

Successes and Positive Developments:

Despite some challenges, the reporting period also saw notable successes. Red Deer County experienced significant growth, increasing from 76 rides for 13 riders in the previous period to 295 rides for 35 riders, supported by an expanded pool of 13 volunteers. Thanks to the addition of a dedicated staff in the region, the program was able to grow and support clients from over a dozen communities across central Alberta.

In total, volunteers donated over 10,000 hours, equivalent of 1,250 workdays—a testament to their dedication and the scale of need. Reliability also remained strong: in Airdrie and Red Deer, under 5% of total rides were cancelled due to no driver being available, while the Edmonton region maintained an 11% cancellation rate, even with sharply rising ridership. The program also delivered 170 food hampers to clients between October 1/2025 and March 31/2026, reinforcing the versatility and community responsiveness of volunteer drivers.

Program Improvement:

Opportunities for improvement within the SATP are closely tied to the number and distribution of active volunteers. Ensuring adequate volunteer coverage across diverse geographic areas—particularly where out-of-town trips are common—will directly strengthen reliability, reduce cancellations, and enhance program responsiveness.

Client Barriers:

Some ongoing barriers continue to affect client access. The requirement for three business days’ notice for ride bookings can be challenging for clients who face last-minute medical changes or urgent needs. This notice period is essential for staff to coordinate volunteer availability; however, volunteers still completed 648 last-minute rides during the reporting period, demonstrating strong flexibility where possible. Clients attending regular weekly programming experienced the highest ride completion rates, as consistent schedules tend to align best with volunteer preferences.

Another barrier stems from the program’s requirement that clients be independent in entering and exiting a vehicle with minimal assistance. While necessary for volunteer safety and program feasibility, this limitation means that SATP is not suitable for all older adults, particularly those with significant mobility challenges. This reinforces the need for well-established and diverse supports, resources, and funding for older adults.

Closing:

Overall, the period from October 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026 reflects both the growing reliance on the Seniors Assisted Transportation Program and the profound impact volunteer drivers continue to make across the greater Edmonton region and beyond. The data illustrates a rapidly increasing demand—driven by an aging population, high rates of seniors living alone, and a significant proportion of low-income and medically vulnerable riders—paired with evolving service pressures such as out-of-town travel, complex appointment needs, and uneven volunteer availability. Yet, despite these challenges, the program demonstrated meaningful progress, strong regional growth, and exceptional volunteer commitment, with more than 10,000 hours donated and high completion rates sustained across multiple communities. Addressing volunteer recruitment, geographic coverage, and systemic barriers will be essential as the SATP moves forward; however, the successes of this reporting period highlight a resilient and responsive program that continues to provide critical support for older adults seeking to live independently, stay connected, and age well in their communities.