Senior Transportation in Brent, AL: Rides With a Caregiver

Local figures

Senior Transportation in Brent, AL: the local picture

12%

of households have no vehicle (5.4% in Bibb County)

3.1 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Centreville)

497

residents 65 or older (12% of Brent)

42%

of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in Bibb County)

About 123 Brent households, 12%, have no vehicle (5.4% in Bibb County). The Census figure covers all ages, but older adults who stop driving are a large part of it.

Hospitals with an emergency department near Brent: Bibb Medical Center in Centreville (3.1 mi); Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster (28 mi); Dch Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa (29 mi). Distances are straight-line, so allow more on the road.

42% of residents 65 and older report a disability. If walking is hard, look for a caregiver who is comfortable with walkers and car transfers, not only a driver.

Brent compared with Bibb County and Alabama

Census figure	Brent	Bibb County	Alabama
Households with no vehicle	12%	5.4%	5.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	40%	38%
Residents 65 or older	12%	17%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	50%	25%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	10%	12%
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	1.1%	1.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$45,000	$38,906	—

Older residents in towns around Brent

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Households with no car
Centreville, AL	2.5 mi	664	1.8%
Coaling, AL	19 mi	198	0.0%
Brookwood, AL	22 mi	233	0.1%
Montevallo, AL	23 mi	1,024	5.7%
Marion, AL	23 mi	590	11%
Cottondale, AL	24 mi	424	0.9%

Hospitals near Brent

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Bibb Medical Center	Centreville, AL	3.1 mi	not rated	(205) 926-4881
Shelby Baptist Medical Center	Alabaster, AL	28 mi	2 of 5	(205) 620-8100
Dch Regional Medical Center	Tuscaloosa, AL	29 mi	2 of 5	(205) 759-7111
Mary S Harper Geriatric Psychiatry Center	Tuscaloosa, AL	29 mi	not rated	(205) 759-0900

Straight-line miles from the center of Brent. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver who drives can help with

Rides to doctor, dental and therapy appointments
Waiting during the appointment and taking notes
Grocery shopping, pharmacy and errands
Trips to church, the senior center and family

Cost

What senior transportation costs in Brent

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $3,750 monthly median income of Brent households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a caregiver who drives

Giving up driving is a common reason older adults start to miss appointments and see fewer people. Before a caregiver drives, agree whose car is used, check that the auto insurance covers it, and agree a mileage rate in writing. The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center and the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can point you to free and low-cost ride programs.

Questions worth asking: May I see your license and proof of auto insurance? Will you drive your car or ours? How do you help someone with a walker in and out of the car? More in our senior transportation guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Senior Transportation in Brent: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Brent?

Bibb Medical Center in Centreville, about 3.1 mi in a straight line from the center of Brent (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (205) 926-4881. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does senior transportation cost in Brent?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $3,750 monthly median income of Brent households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

Does Medicare pay for rides to appointments?

Original Medicare covers emergency ambulance trips, not routine rides. Medicaid covers non-emergency medical transportation for eligible members, and some Medicare Advantage plans include rides (Medicare.gov).

More near Brent

More senior care near Brent

Senior Transportation in nearby cities

Other care in Brent

More for Brent families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

Senior Transportation and Escorted Rides in Brent, AL