My husband, who has Parkinson's, is no longer able to drive. We need a driver who can drive us around when needed. This is the only care we need. Any advice?

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.