Being there is what they do.
TransParent Concierge Ltd. tailors services to fit the needs of seniors and those with disabilities in and around the Bow Valley.
The nature of the business is personalized service such as specialized transportation, said Don Peterson, owner and principal, and Anne, business partner and wife.
“Right now, our main focus is transportation and companion care,” said Don.
The company’s seed germinated nearly two years ago, following Peterson’s near eight-year tenure at William Watson Lodge in Kananaskis Country, which provides cabin accommodations for senior citizens and those with disabilities.
“I really developed an interest in working with special needs and older people, and it all kind of culminated into this reality,” said Peterson.
Don and Anne have found that families are spread out in different cities and provinces now more than ever.
This is where difficulties lay, for example, with family members not having the time or resources to drive someone to an appointment.
“We take them from home to the appointment and often, if they request it, we can stay with them at their appointment and be an extra set of ears and eyes to report to the family,” said Peterson.
The service ranges from Banff and Canmore to MD of Bighorn, Morley, Bragg Creek and Cochrane with the company’s commercially licenced vehicle.
They would like to expand the fleet to include a vehicle that is adaptive and wheelchair assessable.
However, the big challenge that remains for the Canmorites is raising awareness that the service exists, not just with their company, but also awareness of specialized transportation itself in the Bow Valley.
People just don’t know about services like TransParent Concierge and the Town of Canmore’s FCSS volunteer driver program, and alternatively the Town picks up the tab on a local taxi task program for those able to get in and out of the vehicle on their own.
“The awareness piece is very difficult because it is a word of mouth business … it’s a business that takes time to grow, but it’s building trust,” said Peterson.
“It’s all about meaningful help and building that relationship at the end of the day is important … in being able to provide that support and social support.”
TransParent Concierge may be in its “infancy stage,” but as “life-longer learners” with a wealth of experience work alongside seniors, companionship is an integral part of the company’s mandate as well.
It could mean playing card games, baking fluffy brownies or playing the guitar.
“It takes them away from being in that situation, and loneliness is huge, so it’s nice to have that, someone just checking in once a week or twice a week,” said Peterson.
“We want to allow people to maintain their independence whether it’s in their own home and they want to stay in their home for the rest of their life, or as long as they can and keep them out of an institution setting or give them that support.”
For more on TransParent Concierge visit their website at transparentconcierge.com, or call 403-707-8184, or email [email protected].
