Staffing shortages are creating challenges for residents who rely on Porter County Aging and Community Services for transportation to medical care. The organization provides door-to-door demand-response service for older residents and those with disabilities. That includes 29 residents who use the bus to get to dialysis treatment.
But PCACS Board President Ethan Lowe says it's had to cut service from five days a week to four, due to a shortage of drivers. "We've tried to address that. We've increased the wages for our drivers. We used to pay our drivers back in 2018 being the baseline, about $12.50. We've increased that now up to $16 an hour. Unfortunately, that has not helped us," Lowe told the Porter County Council last week.
He says the new schedule allows the organization to continue to serve the dialysis patients Mondays and Wednesdays, while also remaining available for residents running errands on Tuesdays and Thursdays. But it also means the dialysis patients have to make other arrangements to get to their treatment on Fridays.
PCACS Executive Director Bruce Lindner says he has empty buses sitting in the bus barn that are ready to go, if only he had drivers available. "You don't know how much I have negotiated with people, begged them, 'One day. Come on. Why don't you take just it one day a week? I'll pay you $18, $17 to come in.' No takers. I can't get any takers," he told council members.
The organization isn't asking the county for more money at this point, but some council members suggested that it consider requesting American Rescue Plan funds as a temporary measure.
