Jean Patel Bushnell, Executive Director of ITN Greater Boston (Independent transportation network) came into this job with a lifelong passion of hers to ‘help the seniors’. As the youngest of five in a family, she found herself taking care of her ailing mom who passed away at age 62 to a heart attack. She realized that seniors like her mom would have welcomed some means of transportation which would help them to lead a full life even when they are unable to drive themselves. ITN, the organization that she heads is all about that, whose tag line is “Dignified transportation to seniors”.

Jean brings over 20 years of experience and expertise in senior services and eldercare planning, marketing and operations to her role. She has held leadership positions of Director, Channel Marketing and Communications at Lifeline Systems (now Philips Lifeline), VP, Marketing at United Way of Massachusetts Bay (and Merrimack Valley), VP, Business Development at The Visiting Nurse Association of Boston and Executive Director at Standish Village Assisted Living. She founded Marketing Mastery, a vibrant consulting practice that helped organizations like Combined Jewish Philanthropies and start-ups including Warm Health and Senticare launch products and services into the seniors support domain.

Patel Bushnell has been on the Board of Shared Inc., AASRA (Asian American Support Agency), Primary Source, Operation A.B.L.E and YWCA. She was twice Board Chair of Ethos, one of 22 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) that are one-stop entry points for all of the services and benefits available to seniors in Massachusetts.

She's currently on the Board of Discovering What's Next that connects people 50 plus with resources to successfully transition to their next life stage. She's a Member of the Boston Club, the area's largest organization for high-achieving senior executives and professional women, serving on the Strategic Planning Committee. Patel Bushnell holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BS from the University of Wisconsin, Madison

What are the services of ITN and how does it work?

ITN at Greater Boston offers transportation services that are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We offer people 60 years and older, and adults with visual impairments to join as members. Rides are available for any purpose within the service area of a 35 miles radius and are provided in private automobiles by trained drivers.

What is the reach of ITN. What are the communities you serve and how many members are enrolled?

We serve communities in Metro west and in Boston and have just added Southborough, Marlborough, Watertown and Waltham to the mix. We now have around 55 drivers and more than 220 members. To join you pay a $60 annual membership fees. Rides are billed at less than ½ the cost of a taxi - $4 base fee and $1.50 per mile. And there is no tipping.

What is unique about the services that you offer?

ITN is a personalized quality transportation service to our customer. It is community based, and backed by people who care for seniors. Most of our drivers are volunteers. All are screened, trained, friendly and the companionship and care they provide during the ride to the seniors is unique. We also offer door-through-door service with help for packages, groceries etc to help them. It is a caring environment where both parties benefit with the human connection.

How is it funded?

We are fortunate that ITNGreaterBoston is backed by two strong foundations dedicated to quality of life for older adults – MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation (MWCHCF) and Tufts Health Plan Foundation (THPF). With that support we are able to subsidize 60% of the rides .

What is your vision for ITN in the next three years?

My vision is to expand to more communities and make it sustainable. We hope to adopt a diverse strategy where we can have meetings with different groups and members of all backgrounds so we can serve a larger base. I hope to work with partners to achieve this. When you think about it every senior has the same need everywhere and want to lead a life of safety, dignity and independence. That is what ITN hopes to do. My philosophy is when you are sharing time with a senior there is a lot of wisdom you can gain from them and a new appreciation of life. I think at the end of the day that is a worthy cause.

Finally, can you share with us a story of a person who has benefited from ITN ?

We have a 91 year old gentlemen whose daughter signed him up as a member so he could  visit his sister(93) and brother (90)who lived in the North End. He was furious in the beginning saying he didn't need to go anywhere but after several visits to his siblings and sharing a meal together with them he is now good friends with the driver and looks forward to it every month.

There is another very wonderful story of a senior whose spouse was in an assisted living home and she would take the ride to spend as much as 4 hours in a single visit thanks to ITN services. To me personally I am gratified that I have been given an opportunity to serve.

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