Senior Transportation Services
Losing the ability to drive is one of the most significant transitions for seniors. These services restore independence and ensure seniors get to appointments, errands, and social activities safely and on their terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Main options include: medical transport through Medicaid for qualifying appointments, Area Agency on Aging or local senior center subsidized van services, ride-share services (Uber and Lyft), GoGoGrandparent (a service that simplifies Uber/Lyft for seniors without smartphones), volunteer driver programs through local nonprofits, and accessible public transit where available.
GoGoGrandparent is an intermediary service that allows seniors to request Uber and Lyft rides via a phone call — no smartphone app required. Family members can monitor rides in real time, set approved locations, and receive notifications when the senior is picked up and dropped off. The service charges a per-minute fee plus the ride cost.
Original Medicare does not cover transportation to routine medical appointments. Some Medicare Advantage plans include a transportation benefit for medical appointments — check your specific plan. Medicaid typically covers NEMT for qualifying beneficiaries who have no other means of transportation to covered medical services.
Signs to discuss with a physician: frequent near-misses or minor accidents, getting lost in familiar areas, difficulty judging distances or speed, slowed reaction time, difficulty seeing at night, or cognitive changes affecting attention. A driver rehabilitation specialist can objectively assess continuing fitness to drive.