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We do not require any other assistance at the moment. How can we find someone who is available to drive us around as needed?

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Some Medical Advantage plans will cover Non-Emergency Medical transportation (not covered by Medicare). You might want to review if your parent's plan has this benefit.
You might also contact your local Agency on Aging since they have information on services such as transportion.
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Medicaid will pay for a transport but most of the time they send an Uber or Lyft driver who refuses to do anything but drive. And the car is usually a small Prius. My brother is overweight so sitting in the back seat of a Prius for him is extremely uncomfortable. Since my brother is also in a wheelchair, the driver refuses to lift the wheelchair (which is very heavy) and barely fits in the back of a small car anyway. Basically, this never works. Call and find out first what services they offer. Since I end up having to take him in my car, I had to buy a lightweight transport wheelchair so I could manage lifting it in and out of my car.
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Hothouseflower Dec 2022
Post what you need on the NextDoor website. I’m sure you would find a retired person in your neighborhood who wants to make a little money on the side who would want to do this.
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Jogo12: Your locality's COA (Council on Aging) should have staff AND senior volunteers who provide elders with rides to physician appointments, grocery shopping and the like, oftentimes for a nominal fee. Perhaps you also may have friends who can handle the task. Case in point: Fortunately, my mother had befriended a gentleman through her church who provided rides for elders. This came in extremely handy when my mother and I required a ride home from the hospital very early one morning (2 A.M.).
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Where are you located? Are you or your husband on Medicaid? I drove my dad to his appts because I was the PCP and the daughter but Medicaid will pay for transport to and from appts back home if you or him your husband have that ins. Is there anyone in your family that is dependable to drive you?
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Council on Aging in our area drives seniors to doctor appointments, groceries and pharmacies.

If you need transportation outside of the Council on Aging schedule, hire a Lyft or Uber driver.

If you know someone who is trustworthy that could use some extra cash, ask them if they are interested.

Best wishes to you.
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I knew a woman who paid a weekly salary to a neighbor couple to drive her places when she needed it. They must have had some arrangement as to number of calls and times. I don’t know. But when I offered to drive her home one night she declined explaining her arrangement of her salaried drivers.

I would say you would want someone in your neighborhood that you know. Could be a win on each end. Good luck!
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NeedHelpWithMom Dec 2022
I know a woman who did this too. It worked out very well. She hired a single mom and she didn’t even mind that her children went along on errands to the store. They got along very well.
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Most areas have services for people who need drivers. We found one for my father in FT Collins, CO through the hospital. This service was “free” in the sense that they just asked for donations. We found one for my mother in St. Louis, MO through a senior care agency. They gave her a pre-addressed envelope after each trip and she could mail in a donation. Those drivers were great because they helped her in and out and stayed with her while she took care of her needs. My husband is now unable to drive except to Walgreens so we have found a caregiver service that comes two hours twice a week and will take him places either in their car (we pay mileage) or our car (no mileage). We just have to plan his trips around when they’re coming. I take him to medical appointments but let the carer take him places he just wants to go. I appreciate the break!
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I would call Better Business Bureau in your area. They have customers that you can check out. See if they have an A+ rating. The ONLY kind you want.

Explain to the BBB what your problem is and your age. Ask them do they know any resources in your area for seniors?
If you do not have any luck with them, I would try the Chamber of Commerce in your area.
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Some in home care companies have Consumer Directed Services. I know that Integrity does. Please see if an in home care company in your area provides this service.
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I would find a Senior Transportaton Service by contacting your Social Services or local Council on Aging. You may get a discounted rate depending on your financial situation. I would also do some on line doctors appointments or over the phone appointments when possible. Check on food and grocery delivery services. You will have to allow service fees and tips in your monthly budget. I would get an in-home cleaning/laundry service as well. It is less expensive to stay in your home than to go to a nursing or assisted living facility for most people. Check with your local churches and with family to see if anyone can volunteer to take you/accompany you to in-office doctors appointments when needed.
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UBER has an "assist" option (UBER Assist it's called) when choosing the type of vehicle. This may not be available in all areas, and it can be a longer wait time. But with this option the driver does get out of the vehicle to help with loading walkers etc. but I don't know if they will actually escort all the way to the front door.
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Visiting Angels?
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ConnieCaretaker Dec 2022
Care.com?
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Just a word regarding drivers and rides. Many drivers will not help with anything but the ride itself. They won't come inside, put coats on, fetch purses, lock doors, or help someone down the front steps. It doesn't sound like OP needs any of that right now, but there could be others reading this who do need a little more than just a driver. It's very important to 100% find out ahead of time if a driver is willing to perform those extra tasks - including getting in and out of the car. If they work for a transport company, it could be their employer setting the rules and not the individual. I learned the hard way and would like to save someone else some heartache.
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Patathome01 Dec 2022
As mover call the extra details: The White Glove Service.
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My local council on Aging has a list of screened independent caregivers that lists what they can/will do. I hired a driver this way. She's wonderful!
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Honestly, hire a car service that has screened drivers and gets to know you. Don’t rely on city cabs or Uber. It may be a little more costly but the peace of mind is worth it. I hired a driver whenever going to the airport for work. I didn’t rely on cabs. You are safer too. Unless you can find someone local you can pay as another option.
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Google Senior transportation in your city. I found a company who does door to door transport. He does ambulatory people and those in wheelchair but cost is slightly more for wheelchair. 2 other people can ride along. It gives a sense of independence back knowing you don’t have to always ask people for rides. Also local senior services has a transport van service. You may have to wait and the van takes multiple people at a time so multiple stops. Very inexpensive. My late 80’s year old parents live in smaller city an hour from major metropolitan city.
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There are companies that provide non-emergency mobile service. Some even take wheelchairs. Start googling your area or contact the office of aging in your county and they may know of a place. Good luck
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San Mateo County in CA uses Go Go Grandparent linked with Lyft's contract at a 30% discount, and the driver arrives in about 15 minutes. Will you both always be together for rides? Anyone with Parkinson's condition requires an escort to always accompany him.

I will use that transportation option when I cannot drive any more. Shop online and hope no packages go missing.
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A driver is not a caregiver. Use Uber or Lyft or call a taxi as needed, which will be a lot less expensive in the long run than trying to hire a regular person on an 'as needed' basis to do only one thing: driving.
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I use LYFT
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Go to Yelp.com and search "Drivers" near you. You'll likely find all sorts of drivers, including limousine services. Don't be put off by the term "limousine," because most companies have regular cars, too.

Of course, Uber and Lyft are options, too, but I wouldn't make them my first choice.
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I personally LOVE the feeling of being able to call a driver, night or day to haul me places. (OK, truth, just the airport).

It can be expensive, depending on where you're going, but if you can organize the trips into one or two 'groups' then it's a lot easier. Some Uber/Lyft drivers will wait for you and not charge and arm and a leg for their 'wait time'. Most, however, will drop you off and if you can request that they be at "X" spot at "X' time and you also tip them well, you have a friend!

I HATE asking people to take me places when I can't take myself. I LOVED using an Uber when I had chemo days. DH couldn't deal with watching my chemo infusions, tho all I did was get sick I never threw up or anything. Just wanted to go home.

I got 'caught' becoming the go-to driver for a girl in my church community who had epilepsy and couldn't drive. I made the offer of being available to take her places and within weeks I was hauling her EVERYWHERE. On the day she just HAD to go to the craft store--she was blowing up my phone with more and more demanding language--I took her but told her that was the LAST time I'd be available. Emergencies, yes, but not just to 'get out of the house' because she's bored.
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You office of Aging should have Senior bussing or know where you can sign up for it. They will take you to appts and shopping. You may want to see if your pharmacy delivers. Maybe your local Grocery store does. Red Cross may have drivers. If you belong to a Church sometimes they have members willing to drive u.
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I would start by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging and asking about transportation services.

Are there taxi, Uber, Lyft or Gogo Grandparent services in your area?
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