Passive Impact: Real Estate Investing & Special Needs Housing
Welcome to "Passive Impact: Real Estate Investing & Special Needs Housing," where we explore how real estate investment can generate passive income while making a positive difference. Join host Robert Flowers as he shares strategies, success stories, and opportunities for investors looking to create financial stability and meaningful community impact.
Passive Impact: Real Estate Investing & Special Needs Housing
Graceful Journeys: Transforming Transportation for Seniors
In an inspiring episode centered on community kindness, we explore the impactful mission of Graceful Journeys, spearheaded by Angela Craft. This organization not only offers essential transportation services tailored for seniors and individuals with special needs but embodies a compassionate commitment to enhancing the quality of life for those facing mobility challenges. We delve into various services, including non-emergency medical transport and companion rides that foster connections and reduce isolation.
Listeners will gain insights into how Graceful Journeys goes beyond transportation — it emphasizes dignity, companionship, and community support. We reflect on the importance of recognizing needs within our neighborhoods and taking actionable steps towards making a difference. The conversation serves as a catalyst for imagining communities where every person is valued and within reach of essential services.
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that invites you to consider how we can foster similar initiatives in our own towns. Let’s work together to redefine aging and community care! Don’t forget to subscribe and share your thoughts on how we can make our communities more inclusive and supportive!
All right, everybody, welcome back. We are taking a deep dive today and we're going to be looking at something really neat, I think.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And it's called Graceful Journeys.
Speaker 2:Oh, very cool.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so this is an organization and it's really fascinating what they're doing.
Speaker 2:Sounds interesting.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it's all about. You know, people in our community sometimes need a little extra help.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm. And sometimes that means needing a ride right you know, sometimes when you can't drive yourself yeah, exactly, or you know it's just.
Speaker 1:I mean, there's a million reasons why somebody might need some assistance, and so that's kind of what graceful journey is all about yeah, that's great.
Speaker 2:I mean, it's just one of those things that you don't really think about right until it's an issue, you know, and then it can be a real challenge?
Speaker 1:Yeah, totally, and so this is going to be, I think, a really cool deep dive, because we're going to kind of see what they're doing.
Speaker 2:I'm excited to learn more.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm excited too, and it looks like the founder of this organization is Angela Craft.
Speaker 2:Okay, I'm always interested in the people behind these kinds of initiatives.
Speaker 1:Me too, Me too.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I think that's actually a really good place to start.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So what do we know about Angela Craft?
Speaker 2:Well, it seems like she really knows her community. You know she's seen firsthand just how tough it can be, oh yeah, for folks, especially seniors and people with special needs, to get around. You know, when reliable transportation is just not an option like that really limits what you can do.
Speaker 1:How you can live your life, yeah.
Speaker 2:And so she decided to do something about it.
Speaker 1:And that's how Graceful Journeys was born.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:That's really cool. Before we dive into, like, all the different ways that Graceful Journeys helps people I mean, you know, just thinking about Angela Craft's story, what do you think like? What's the biggest takeaway there?
Speaker 2:Well, I think it's about recognizing a need in your community and then taking action. You know, not just sitting back and saying, oh, somebody should do something about that, but actually stepping up and making a difference.
Speaker 1:And I think that's something everybody listening can relate to Absolutely. You know, you see something in your neighborhood, your community. You want to change. You know, take a page from Angela Craft's book and Be the change. Yeah, be the change. Love it Okay, so let's get into the nitty gritty here, right? What kind of services does Graceful Journeys actually offer?
Speaker 2:So they've got a whole range of services offer. So they've got a whole range of services.
Speaker 1:Okay, and they're designed to really meet a variety of needs, okay, cool.
Speaker 2:So for starters, they have what they call non-emergency medical transport.
Speaker 1:Non-emergency medical transport, yeah, so I mean, that sounds pretty self-explanatory.
Speaker 2:Right, right it is, but it's more than just a ride to the doctor's office.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay.
Speaker 2:Think about it you know, you or someone you love, they've got a medical appointment.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Maybe they have trouble getting around, maybe they need help with a walker or a wheelchair. Yeah, graceful Journeys takes care of all of that. Wow, they make sure their clients are comfortable.
Speaker 1:That's huge.
Speaker 2:That they arrive on time Right and that they have all the assistance they need.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that takes a lot of the stress and anxiety. Exactly Out of going to the doctor, which, let's be honest, Right. It can already be a stressful experience.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Especially for seniors. Yeah, no question so that's really cool and you know we were talking about how Angela Craft she was really aware of the needs of her community.
Speaker 2:Right, and I see here that Graceful. Journeys also offers something called companion rides. Oh, that's interesting. What is that? So this is for seniors, who might need a little extra help OK. Or companionship, gotcha, you know, maybe they're not comfortable going out alone.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Or maybe they just want someone to chat with on the way to the grocery store or to a friend's house.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's really nice.
Speaker 2:And here's the thing.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:The drivers aren't just drivers. Okay, they're trained to recognize if something's not quite right.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow.
Speaker 2:You know, if a senior seems confused or withdrawn, they can alert family members or caregivers.
Speaker 1:So they're like an extra set of eyes and ears, exactly Looking out for these seniors, exactly. That's amazing, and you know we talk a lot on the show about the importance of social connection.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Especially for seniors.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And it looks like Graceful Journeys. They're really tackling that head on with their social and recreational transport.
Speaker 2:Yeah, this is great.
Speaker 1:Tell me about that.
Speaker 2:So this is great. Tell me about that. So this is all about helping seniors stay active and engaged.
Speaker 1:They provide transportation to senior centers, social gatherings, church services, you name it. So it's not just about getting from point A to point B.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:It's about helping seniors live full and enriching lives.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and I think it's so important to remember that, as people age, their social needs don't just disappear.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:They might even become more important.
Speaker 1:Right, and it's so easy to feel isolated Absolutely, especially if you're not able to get out and about as easily as you used to. So that's really cool and graceful. Journeys doesn't stop there.
Speaker 2:No, they don't.
Speaker 1:They also have grocery and errand services. Yes, so tell me a little bit more about that.
Speaker 2:It's pretty straightforward. They'll help seniors with their grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, running errands.
Speaker 1:But what sets them apart is that they'll actually go the extra mile.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:And help with things like carrying groceries inside.
Speaker 2:Yes, putting them away Exactly.
Speaker 1:Which can be a huge help for seniors who might have trouble with those tasks.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. It's those little things that can make a big difference. Huge difference, you know. It's about recognizing that sometimes people just need a little extra help and being willing to provide it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, totally so. We've talked about how Graceful Journeys helps individuals, right, but they also have services for groups.
Speaker 2:Yes, they do.
Speaker 1:So tell me about their customized group transport.
Speaker 2:This is specifically designed for senior living communities.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Or other organizations that work with seniors. So imagine a group outing to a park or a museum.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Graceful Journeys can arrange all the transportation, make sure everyone gets there safely and comfortably.
Speaker 1:That sounds really convenient.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it takes all the hassle out of planning group outings.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Which can be a real barrier for some senior group.
Speaker 1:Yeah, especially if they're relying on volunteers or family members to do all the driving. So that's really neat. And we can't forget about their hospital discharge and follow-up care services.
Speaker 2:Yeah, this is so important.
Speaker 1:Yeah, tell me about that.
Speaker 2:So when a senior is discharged from the hospital, Graceful Journeys can provide transportation home.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:But they also make sure that the senior is settled in safely, wow, and they'll even coordinate with caregivers to ensure that the senior has everything they need.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's a huge relief for families.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely. It can be so overwhelming to try to manage all of that on your own.
Speaker 1:Especially if you're working or you live far away.
Speaker 2:Exactly, so that's a really valuable service.
Speaker 1:And of course, graceful journeys, make sure that all their vehicles are wheelchair and mobility accessible.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. That's essential for serving a diverse population.
Speaker 1:It really shows that Angela Craft has thought of everything.
Speaker 2:She really has. It's clear that she's passionate about making sure that everyone, regardless of their physical abilities, has the opportunity to live a full and active life.
Speaker 1:That's fantastic. You know, I'm really blown away by everything that Angela Craft and Graceful Journeys are doing.
Speaker 2:Me too.
Speaker 1:It's so much more than just transportation.
Speaker 2:It really is.
Speaker 1:It's about community.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's about caring for one another and it's about recognizing the value and the dignity of every individual.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely yeah. And before we wrap up, I do want to give a quick shout out to our sponsor.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Flowers and Associates.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah Great folks.
Speaker 1:They specialize in special needs housing which, as we've been talking about, is so important for creating inclusive communities.
Speaker 2:Absolutely A perfect fit with what we're talking about today.
Speaker 1:Yeah, totally so, if you're looking for accessible and comfortable housing options definitely check them out. Be sure to check out out flowers and associates.
Speaker 2:Oh.
Speaker 1:Okay, so before we sign off, Right. Here's something I want everyone listening to think about.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:What if every city had a service like Graceful Journeys?
Speaker 2:That's a great question.
Speaker 1:You know how would that change the way we think about aging and community support, I mean it?
Speaker 2:would be a game changer.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:For so many people.
Speaker 1:It would allow seniors and people with special needs to stay active.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Engaged Connected.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:For so much longer.
Speaker 2:And it would really send a message that everyone is valued and that everyone deserves to be a part of the community.
Speaker 1:Yeah, food for thought, right.
Speaker 2:Definitely.
Speaker 1:So that's it for today's Deep Dive.
Speaker 2:Awesome.
Speaker 1:I hope you learned something new, that you're feeling inspired.
Speaker 2:Me too.
Speaker 1:And if you're interested in learning more about graceful journeys yes. Or finding similar services in your own community. Be sure to check out the links in our show notes.
Speaker 2:Great idea.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening.
Speaker 2:Thanks everyone.
