Senior rides to the doctor can be arranged several ways: a family member, a senior shuttle, non-emergency medical transport, or a senior ride service like GoGoGrandparent, where you call or text and a driver comes to your door. Which one is right depends on the appointment. This guide covers your options, how to tell a routine trip to the doctors from one that needs medical transport, and what to sort out before the day.
It matters more than it sounds. Among adults who don't have a car or public transit nearby, more than 1 in 5 went without medical care they needed, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
What are your options for getting to a doctor's appointment?
Each of these works for somebody, and each has a trade-off.
- A family member or friend. Free and familiar, but it runs on someone else's schedule, and not everyone has family close by.
- Public transit or a senior shuttle. Low cost, but routes and times are limited, and getting to the stop can be hard in bad weather.
- Non-emergency medical transport. Built for medical trips, and sometimes covered for certain needs, but it usually has to be booked well ahead.
- A rideshare app. On-demand, but it assumes a smartphone, a card already loaded, and tapping through a screen while a driver waits.
- A senior ride service. GoGoGrandparent works with Uber and Lyft on your behalf, so you can request rides to the doctor by phone or text without an app.
If you want the wider comparison, our guide to transportation options for seniors covers every choice in more detail.
Which kind of ride do you actually need?
A regular ride and medical transport are two different services, and sorting out which you need saves a scramble on the day.
A regular ride is usually fine when:
- It's a routine visit: a checkup, a follow-up, lab work, a dental cleaning, an eye exam.
- Getting in and out of a car is manageable, alone or with a cane or folding walker.
- There is no sedation involved, and nobody has asked for someone to come along.
Non-emergency medical transport is the better call when:
- A wheelchair has to travel too, or the vehicle needs to be one that rolls straight in.
- Someone has to physically help out of the car and into the office.
- The appointment involves anesthesia or sedation, such as a colonoscopy or cataract surgery.
That last one catches people out. The American Society of Anesthesiologists is direct about it: after sedation you will need to arrange for someone to take you home, and it isn't considered safe to travel on your own that day. Clinics set their own rules about who can take you home, so if there's any chance your appointment falls into this category, ask the office what they require before you book anything.
How does GoGoGrandparent get you to the doctor?
For most routine appointments, the barrier isn't the ride itself. It's the technology. GoGo was built around that: you request rides the way you're comfortable, and the rest is handled for you.
- Request it your way. Call 1 (855) 464-6872, send a text, or use the web chat. There's no app to download and no smartphone needed.
- A highly-rated driver comes to you. GoGo works with Uber and Lyft and matches you with highly-rated drivers, with a small concierge fee on top of the ride cost.
- Someone is there if plans change. The GoGo Guardians team is able to monitor your ride and step in if a driver is running late.
- Your family can follow along. Family Features let a loved one see when you're picked up and dropped off, which helps when your children live in another city.
Your saved addresses stay on the GoGo account, so you're not reading out the clinic address from an appointment card every time. Rides can also be booked ahead, and many people schedule the trip there in advance, then call GoGo for the ride home once they're actually finished.
What should you plan before your medical ride?
Five minutes the day before usually covers it.
- Check the exact address, not just the practice name. Large medical groups run several buildings, and the suite number on an appointment card may not match the one on the website. Ask which entrance to use.
- Allow more time than seems necessary. The drop-off, finding the floor, and checking in usually take longer than the drive.
- Decide the return trip in advance. Not the time, the plan: whether it's a phone call when you finish or a family member collecting you.
- Say what's coming along. A walker, a cane, a portable oxygen tank, a folded wheelchair. Mention it when you book so the right vehicle turns up.
What if you need more than a ride to the doctor?
Getting to the doctor is usually one piece of a bigger week. The prescription still needs picking up and the fridge still needs filling, and when the weather turns those errands get harder.
GoGo is more than rides to the doctor. The same account covers grocery delivery through GoGo Delivery, along with meal and pharmacy delivery, so the essentials come to you instead. You can keep the appointment in person and let the rest come to the door.
How do you set up your first ride?
Getting started takes a few minutes.
- Sign up by phone or online. Register with GoGoGrandparent over the phone with a real person on 1 (855) 464-6872, or on the website if you'd rather do it yourself.
- Save your common places. Add the doctor's office, the pharmacy, and home, so future rides are quick to book.
- Request your ride. Call, text, or use the web chat whenever you need to go.
Stay independent, stay moving
Giving up driving doesn't have to mean giving up your freedom. With a dependable ride in place, you can keep every appointment and stay on top of your care on your own terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do seniors get to doctor appointments if they don't drive?
Senior rides to the doctor can be arranged several ways, including family and friends, public transit or senior shuttles, non-emergency medical transport, and senior ride services like GoGoGrandparent. A ride service is often the easiest to set up, since you can book by phone, text, or web chat and a driver comes to your door.
Can you book a ride to a doctor's appointment in advance?
Yes. You can arrange the ride ahead of time rather than waiting until the morning of your appointment. Many people book the trip there in advance and then call for the ride home once the appointment actually finishes, since appointments often run late.
Can you take a regular ride home after a procedure with anesthesia?
It depends on the clinic. After sedation, the American Society of Anesthesiologists says you'll need to arrange for someone to take you home, so ask the office what they require when you book the appointment.
Do you need a smartphone to use GoGoGrandparent?
No. You can request a ride by phone on 1 (855) 464-6872, by text, or through a simple web chat. There's no app to download and nothing to tap through on a small screen, which is why it works well for seniors who don't use a smartphone.
Can a family member arrange the ride for me?
Yes, once they've been added to your account as someone who can make requests. Family Features then let them see when you're picked up and dropped off, which is especially helpful when your loved ones live far away.
Is someone keeping an eye on the ride?
The GoGo Guardians team is able to monitor your ride and step in if plans change or a driver is delayed, so you're not on your own once the trip starts.
Can GoGoGrandparent help with more than rides to the doctor?
Yes. Along with rides, GoGo can help with grocery, meal, and pharmacy delivery, so the essentials can come to you. That's especially useful in the colder months, when getting out for errands is harder.
