Paratransit

Paratransit is for those who have a disability that is not only temporary and prevents them from traveling by bus or other public transport on their own. Often, a local government official is responsible for handling the paratransit application. Some regions have taken over this responsibility from the municipalities in the region.

Paratransit should not be equated with taxi service. Often, the trips are coordinated so that several people ride together in the same car. Paratransit is used for private trips. It can be to the store or to visit acquaintances. In some municipalities, those who are entitled to paratransit also have the right to ride buses for free. There are also special bus tours of the type "soft line" which are specially adapted for those who have difficulty getting around with regular public transport.

Paratransit may apply only to one's own municipality, but sometimes it covers an extended municipal boundary or the entire region. It is the municipality or the region that decides what the paratransit should cost for the individual.

Escort during travel

For those who need an escort during travel, it can be included in the permission. It needs to be clearly stated that an escort is included. It also needs to be mentioned when booking trips, as carpooling occurs and there may thus be a lack of space for accompanying escorts.

National Paratransit

For those who need to travel paratransit a longer distance, i.e., outside the border decided in the municipality/region, there is national paratransit. National paratransit is applied for in the home municipality. National paratransit is granted for leisure and recreational trips.

The cost for national paratransit corresponds to the cost that would have been with public communications. National paratransit is a financial compensation for the extra costs the person with a disability has incurred as a result of the disability.

Right to paratransit does not automatically mean the right to national paratransit. The person must apply for each individual trip. Often, national paratransit is done with public communications. The individual arranges for an escort to assist them during the trip.

Parking permit for handicapped parking

For people with mobility impairments, a special parking permit can be issued. The permit can be issued both to mobility impaired individuals who drive motor vehicles themselves and to other mobility impaired who regularly need assistance from the driver outside the vehicle.

A permit can only be issued to a mobility impaired person who has a permanent disability that means they have significant difficulties moving on their own and is valid for up to five years. With a permit, you have the right to park in parking spaces that have been reserved for mobility impaired with parking permits through local traffic regulations, observing any maximum parking time prescribed for such a place, and the right to park for up to three hours on a pedestrian street.

When a parking permit for the mobility impaired is used, the permit should be placed at the front of the vehicle so that it is clearly visible and readable from the outside. Parking fees are decided by the municipality and can be free of charge in some places. Read more on the Swedish Transport Agency's website.

Medical transport

Patients who have costs for traveling to and from medical or dental care may be entitled to compensation from their region for part of their travel costs.
The region often has a booking center for medical transport. The treating doctor then makes an assessment if a medical transport was necessary. If you have chosen a medical transport but could have taken the bus just as well, you risk having to pay the taxi trip yourself. If the doctor writes a certificate for medical transport, you pay a small fee for the journey yourself. You have to pay the entire taxi trip directly and then get back parts of the travel cost.

Medical transport card

For those who always need medical transport when they are going to visit healthcare, the region can issue a medical transport card. If you have one, you should state the number on the back when booking the medical transport.

Medical transportation

If you need to lie down during the journey, for example in connection with discharge from a hospital, the hospital can order medical transportation. Medical transportation can be done by ambulance or stretcher car. Medical transport is free of charge for the individual.

Reflection questions - travels in healthcare
Care staff:
• Have you ever ordered the wrong type of transport for the residents?
• Does the handling of paratransit cards and medical transport cards at the residence work well?

Manager, nurse, occupational therapist and physiotherapist:
• Do you encourage, for example, contact men to use their own time to go out on trips?
• Does everyone who is entitled to it have a medical transport card?
• Are there residents who basically never leave the house?

Residents and relatives:
• Do you take advantage of the opportunity to go out with paratransit, medical transport or other community-funded trips?

Erland Olsson
Specialist nurse
Sofrosyne - Better care every day