When your parents need support: arranging an escort service

First signs: when help with rides makes sense

It often starts with small things: driving becomes harder, the bus is a struggle with shopping bags, the trip to the doctor gets postponed. Having a reliable ride on a regular basis helps people stay independent for longer and keep running their own daily lives.

More than a ride

Our escort service picks up at the front door and brings the passenger back. In between, we do what helps:

• Help getting in and out.
• Accompaniment to reception, to registration or to the apartment door.
• Carrying shopping bags to the apartment, on request.
• Waiting and return ride in one booking, for example at the hairdresser, at the chiropodist or during a visit.

Typical destinations are shopping, the doctor and therapy, the hairdresser, the bank or a visit to the authorities, a visit to friends or to a care centre.

Booking from a distance

You do not have to live nearby to arrange the rides:

1. Make a request: choose «For someone else» and enter your father's or mother's name and phone number. You remain the contact person. 2. Receive the confirmation: the confirmation goes to you. That way you know when we pick up. 3. Invoice to you: on request the invoice goes to your address, not to your parents.

Tell us what we should know: rollator or folding wheelchair, floor, whether someone opens the door and whether accompaniment to the apartment is needed.

Fixed weekly appointments

Weekly shopping on Tuesday, physiotherapy twice a week: we plan recurring rides as a recurring series, if possible with the same contact persons, so that your parents know who is coming. You cancel or move single appointments according to the cancellation terms, free of charge up to 24 hours in advance.

What we do not do

The escort service is a ride with personal help, not care. We do not provide medical or nursing care. We do not currently have a wheelchair-accessible vehicle; if you can move from the wheelchair onto a vehicle seat, you are welcome. For doctor's appointments, hospital or dialysis, also read our guide on patient transport.

A conversation that helps

Many older people do not want to be a burden to anyone. It helps to talk about the ride not as help but as a relief: no looking for a parking space, no heavy bags, someone waits. Try it with a single ride, for example to the next doctor's appointment.

Checklist

• Your parents' name, address and phone number
• Destination, date, time, return ride at a fixed time or after the appointment
• Rollator, folding wheelchair, floor, lift
• Invoice to you or to your parents
• A fixed rhythm? Then as a recurring series