Hire a Driver for Hospital Visits and Elderly Parents' Trips

Taking an elderly parent to a hospital is not like any other trip. There are appointments to keep, files to carry, waiting rooms and long hours, and a person who may be tired or in discomfort. A careful driver for your own car, or for the family car, takes away one big worry. This guide shows what to arrange when you hire a driver for hospital visits and for the everyday trips of senior family members, whether it is a regular check up in Hyderabad or a longer journey to a hospital in Vellore or Kochi.

Why a driver makes sense

At a large hospital, parking can be difficult and far from the entrance. A driver can drop your parent at the door, park the car and be ready at the pick up point. During long waits, you do not have to leave your parent alone to move the car. After a procedure or a tiring appointment, a calm drive home matters more than speed.

Plan the visit with the driver

Tell the booking the hospital, the department, the appointment time and the number of people travelling. Mention if your parent uses a wheelchair or a walker, because the car must have room for it. If the appointment time is uncertain, agree on how waiting hours are handled. Long waits are normal in hospitals, and it helps to know the arrangement in advance.

Remember that the day does not end at the hospital door. There may be a pharmacy visit, a scan at another centre, or a meal on the way home. Tell the driver the full list of stops you expect, so that he can plan the parking and the waiting at each. Having a plan for the whole day makes it calmer for your parent, who may not be able to wait long or walk far.

• Hospital name, gate and department
• Appointment time and expected duration
• Number of people, and any wheelchair or walker
• Waiting arrangement, in case of delay

What a good driver does

A good driver for this kind of trip drives smoothly, avoids sudden braking, and gives the passenger time to get in and out. He helps with a door and a bag, but does not touch the patient unless asked to. He is patient with delays and does not rush the family. Tell him about any health condition that matters on the road, such as a person who gets dizzy or needs frequent stops.

Be honest with the driver about the person's condition. A person who is weak after a procedure needs a slower start and a gentle drive. A person with a heart condition may need to avoid stress and heat. A driver who knows what to expect can help in small ways, such as keeping the air conditioning at the right level, choosing a smoother road and stopping if the person feels unwell.

Longer trips to hospitals in other cities

Many families travel to well known hospitals in other cities, such as Vellore from Chennai or Bangalore, or to the large hospitals in Hyderabad and Kochi. For these trips, plan the journey with rest, since the long drive can be tiring for a person who is unwell. Leave early enough for a relaxed arrival, and think about staying the night before the appointment.

Comfort in the car

Make the seat comfortable with a cushion, and keep water and light food in the car. Carry the medical file, the reports and the medicines in a bag that stays with you. Keep the air conditioning at a level that suits the patient, and ask the driver to take care on bumpy sections of the road.

Safety and privacy

The driver will hear conversations about health, so choose a service that treats a customer's information with respect. Share the driver's name and number with another family member, and share the trip so that they can follow it. Keep valuables with you rather than in the car.

Think about emergencies. Keep the phone number of the hospital, the doctor and a close relative in the driver's phone as well as yours. If a person becomes unwell in the car, the driver should know to stop in a safe place and call you, and to head to the nearest hospital if it is serious. A short conversation at the start of the trip can make a big difference in a rare, urgent moment.

Booking by the day or by the visit

For a single appointment, a booking by the hour or for the visit may be enough. For a treatment that needs many visits, such as dialysis or physiotherapy, a regular booking for the same driver can be easier for the family and the patient. Ask the booking whether the same driver can be sent each time, and how the charges work for repeated trips.

Questions