Onward Receives NIA Grant to Scale Transportation Solutions for Older Adults
Onward Health Inc. has received a $2.3 million Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institute on Aging to fund a two-year research project that will advance its ongoing efforts to advance safe, culturally competent and accessible transportation solutions for older adults and individuals requiring extra support.
The grant will be utilized to conduct a rigorous clinical study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of its purpose-built transportation solution. The study will focus on measuring the impact of Onward services on the health, well-being, and quality of life of older adults, particularly those with Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias and other age-related health conditions who require accessible transportation to essential health appointments.
“Receiving this grant is a testament to the critical need for specialized transportation solutions for our aging population,” said Kim Petty, CEO of Onward Health. “This funding allows us to take meaningful steps toward building tech-enabled transportation that enhances the quality of life for seniors.”
By addressing the critical need for reliable transportation for individuals with cognitive impairments, the research has the potential to improve health care outcomes and quality of life for a growing population of older adults.