Transportation Services

All Norwell Council on Aging transportation programs are available for Norwell residents, age 60 and older. Transportation is also available for Norwell adults of all ages with documented disabilities, under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Individuals with special circumstances, i.e. portable oxygen, wheelchair use, or other assistive devices will be accommodated per COA guidelines/policies. We make every effort to transport residents via one of the following programs.

COA Van Transport

This is a free, demand response system. Our priority is medical appointments (physician, dentist, lab work, PT and other procedures not involving sedation) and our service area includes Norwell, Hanover, Weymouth, Cohasset, Scituate and limited locations in HIngham and Pembroke.  Please note that we cannot provide transportation for individuals being discharged from a hospital or skilled nursing facility, or those undergoing procedures involving anesthetia. 

Transportation for medical appointments is offered Monday through Thursday, with appointments scheduled to begin from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. within our service area.  Medical transportation is available on Fridays 9:00 a,n, to Noon, for those appointments only located in  Norwell and Hanover.

Transportation to Boston-area hospitals, VA hospitals or those rides we can’t accommodate along the Route 3 corridor, are schedule through South Shore Community Action Council. This is a grant-funded program through South Shore Elder Services. Please see te MAP section below for details. 

Transportation services are also available for daily programs at the Senior Center, as well as local shopping and errands as noted below.

Shopping Schedule

PlaceWhenTime
Norwell Public Library and general errandsTuesdaysSchedule is based on medical appointments. 

Grocery Shopping at Big Y

 

Food pantry

Wednesdays

 

 

Thursday       

Schedule is based on medical appointments. 

Grocery Shopping at Stop & Shop 


Target

FridaysSchedule is based on medical appointments. 

Prescription Pick-up

Please try to make arrangements with a family member or friend to assist you with filling a prescription. If you are unable to do so, please contact the COA and we’ll do our best to assist you.  

To facilitate the prescription process, we ask that the physician call in a prescription to the pharmacy.  All prescriptions must be pre-paid or exact payment must be provided to the driver prior pick up. For more information, please call the COA office at 781-659-7878.

MAP  (Medical Access Program) 

The Medical Access Program (MAP) through the South Shore Community Action Council provides accessible medical transportation to areas outside of the COA services area, including Boston, VA facilities and locations along the Route 3 corridor that are not accessible by the COA van.  Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m.to 6 p.m., however due to contracted services that SSCAC provides to other clients, please contact our office prior to scheduling you appointment to confirm transportation is available.   Rides must be scheduled one week in advance. Please note that this is a ride share service so you may be travelling with other passengers and may be picked up early or may need to wait after your appointment for the van to return to the area.  This program is funded through the Older Americans Act and South Shore Elder Services under a Federal Title IIIb grant.   Donations are accepted to extend grant funds.  For more information, please call the COA office at 781-659-7878.

Requesting COA Transportation

To request transportation for a medical appointment, shopping or for a program, call the COA office at 781-659-7878To assist with planning daily transportation, the following guidelines apply;

  • Requests for medical transportation must be made business 3 days in advance.
  • Requests for program transportation must be made 3 business days in advance.
  • We regret that same-day transportation requests cannot be accepted and messages left during the weekend for Monday

When scheduling an appointment you will need to provide the following information:

  • Your name, address and telephone number
  • Appointment date, time and anticipated duration
  • Doctor’s name, address and telephone number
  • If you have ambulatory issues or require use of a wheel chair

Medical appointments and prescription runs are a priority. Shopping, personal errands, and program transportation are set for specific days.

Alternate Transportation Services:

MassHealth Medical Transportation Services

MassHealth provides medical transportation for individuals approved for Medicaid who are unable to use public transportation or do not have private means of transportation.

Transportation must be to and from a MassHealth provider and may be available for long-term appointments for services such as physical therapy. The medical provider must submit a PT1 form directly to MassHealth, on behalf of the individual, at least a week in advance. If approved, individuals can call the MassHealth Customer Service Center at 1-800-841-2900 to schedule a ride.     

The patient will be notified via mail with a transportation status. Once approved riders can contact the local regional transit authority to schedule a ride, three days in advance if possible. Currently, the provider for Norwell is MART Metro Transit Authority 866-834-9991, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Actual transportation may be provided by another company, as MART is the program coordinator for this area.

VA Transportation

The Disabled Veterans Association coordinates limited, complimentary transportation services for veterans to the Brockton, West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain VA Hospitals. Service is available Monday through Friday with appointment times between 8:30 A.M. and Noon. Please note that riders may need to wait for an extended time after their appointment for the van to return to their location.  

Riders must be ambulatory or require only little assistance getting on or off the van. Unfortunately, the van cannot accommodate wheelchair patients.

Appointments are on a first come, first serve basis and must be made a minimum of two weeks in advance. Due to the high demand, they cannot accommodate appointments within a two week period. If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, please contact the office so that another patient can be accommodated. To make a ride reservation call 774-826-2264 between 8 A.M. and Noon, Monday through Friday.

The Brockton DAV is always looking for volunteers to assist with their transportation program. If you’d like to help, please contact Bill at 774-826-2264.

America Cancer Society – Road to Recovery

The ACS Road to Recovery provides free transportation to cancer patients for medical or treatment appointments related to their diagnosis. This may include treatment, tests, and medical procedures, follow up appointments, etc. Trained ACS volunteer drivers donate their time and use of their personal vehicle for transportation Monday through Friday. This is for individuals who have exhausted family and community resources and have no other means of transportation.  

Three business days (72) hours) notice is required for all rides. Patients must be ambulatory and able to get in and out of their home and vehicle under their own power. For those with canes, walkers, light weight wheelchairs, or oxygen are eligible for services but must be accompanied by another person for assistance. Service is subject to the availability of volunteer drivers.

To schedule a ride call 1-800-227-2345. The ACS welcomes new volunteer drivers.