Check with your local county to see if they can recommend anyone for transport. I agree with other posters though in terms of finding out from your doctor if you will need someone to be home with your for a few hours after your surgery. If that is the case, ask him /her if they have a service they can recommend.
Beavezu: Perhaps you should pose your question to the office scheduling your surgery. Also, the facility performing your surgery may require that someone stay with you for a twenty-four hour period and not just be a driver.
I don't know the nature of your surgery. My husband had outpatient surgery and could have taken a cab there. However, he really needed help getting home and getting settled at home. I hope you can arrange for someone to stay with you at least the first evening. Some medical staffing companies can provide CNAs.
Medical providers will want the name of the person picking you up - so more than likely they won't let you leave with a commercial driving service (like Uber).
The first thing to do would be to ask your dr if you need someone with you after the surgery. If you do, it's not going to be safe to go home alone. It's also the same reason they don't let you leave in an Uber because if you aren't fully aware, it would not be safe to get in a car with a stranger.
Tell dr you have no ride and see what they recommend. They may know of a transport service that can handle this sort of thing - and - dr would tell you if you need someone to stay with you at home. Sometimes they can work with you to keep you overnight and let you be fully awake before returning home. If you're completely awake and aware, you could probably use an Uber.
Pay for a driving service with limo /sedan drivers. I learned through the travel with my last job that these groups are hired for all kinds of reasons from driving Ms. Daisy to taking the exec to the airport every Monday. It may cost you $100-$200 bucks but they will help you, make sure you are comfortable and you will be safe. It’s worth it to treat yourself well and especially with medical needs.
If you a member of the NextDoor app for your area, I have seen posts from residents in my area asking for this type of help and read responses from people indicating that they would be willing to give a ride to and from an appointment.
Doctors and surgical centers doing surgeries that require sedation will not permit you to get a ride through Uber, Lyft or a taxi. You will need to arrange a ride and a "responsible party" with a Home Care Agency or with Medical Transport Service that will also monitor you after your procedure. Most agencies require at least a 4-hour minimum shift and a procedure and follow-up monitoring may need a full day and/or night. You will pay for these services put of pocket. They are not covered by Medicare or insurance.
I googled Senior transportation in our city and found a transport company who does door to door and can do wheelchair or ambulatory. Maybe your city has something like that. Or look for non emergency medical transportation providers. They usually pick you up in a van. Some caregiver agencies have a caregiver to drive you and they could stay with you. You pay hourly.
If you need a driver, chances are high that you will also be asked if someone will be with you for 24 hours. You can contact professional providrs in your area. They even offer transportation. You need to set this up a couple of weeks in advance
I have this discussion with my doctor frequently. Currently I take a cab to my eye doctor once a month ( I can not see well after the visit) it costs about $100 round trip. However my doctor is much further away and would cost over $120 each way. Same for Uber. So I tell him no. I have made some risky drives in the past when I was sick or needed eye surgery. I live in the country and do not have many choices. I suppose if it was life threatening I would do the cab thing. But many doctors want your driver present through the procedure. Argh. Politics.
There are agencies that provide this very service. There is a fee and you need to schedule with the service provider ahead of time for the level of service you need ( such as drive and drop off, vs drive, remain at facility during procedure ,return you home, provide any follow-up support you may need once home). You can request input on these services in whatever area you are in via your PCP office, Senior Community Services, or simply Google something like " home care services" and several options should pop up.
Similar situation and living independently at 67. Will eventually need cataracts removed that requires someone is with me. I live without local relatives and have few friends or relationships I can trust living alone with my disability. I have too much income and assets for Medicaid, called MediCal in CA, yet have limited financial resources for myself. What if you have too much assets for Medicaid to get limited income service?
Patahome, Align yourself with others in your community, maybe a support group for others with your specific disability. Go there, make some friends who you might be able to call upon for a ride, or maybe they can refer you to a friend who gives them rides.
Maybe plan on the relative to visit, even though they are not local.
If ur on Medicaid for heath, they do contract with a transport company. Office of Aging usually provides bussing or knows where you can get it. American Red Cross has volunteers. Churches usually have volunteers.
If in the US, dial 211 to reach elder help, I think it's an Easter Seals funded project with some state funding too, designed to provide help in situations like this. You can also research local 'services for aging' and find the same number and the community service agencies that provide this type of assistance.
Most local community service agencies have a list of volunteer drivers that will provide this service for a very low fee. Just do not inform if you'll be alone post-op because they'll deny you the service; you have to say that a friend or family member will arrive as soon as you get home and call them, or some such.
I'm sorry that you're in a place where you don't have family or friends that you'd be comfortable asking this favor of, but I've been there myself and had to fool the same day surgery center (easier done as a retired RN) and convince them that I had someone to stay with me for 24 hrs post-procedure. In reality, I took a 4 hr bus ride to that city, stayed in a hotel, and had a taxi drive me to and from the same day surgery and then did an overnight in the hotel before taking the long distance bus back home the following day. I had to use a walker and the ppl were all very accommodating.
I trust that you'll get this worked out and pls have someone check in on you by phone at the least while in the first 24-48 hrs after surgery, just to be safe.
I trust that all goes well and your recovery is quick.
Good luck on your surgery!
The first thing to do would be to ask your dr if you need someone with you after the surgery. If you do, it's not going to be safe to go home alone. It's also the same reason they don't let you leave in an Uber because if you aren't fully aware, it would not be safe to get in a car with a stranger.
Tell dr you have no ride and see what they recommend. They may know of a transport service that can handle this sort of thing - and - dr would tell you if you need someone to stay with you at home. Sometimes they can work with you to keep you overnight and let you be fully awake before returning home. If you're completely awake and aware, you could probably use an Uber.
You can request input on these services in whatever area you are in via your PCP office, Senior Community Services, or simply Google something like " home care services" and several options should pop up.
Align yourself with others in your community, maybe a support group
for others with your specific disability. Go there, make some friends who you might be able to call upon for a ride, or maybe they can refer you to a friend who gives them rides.
Maybe plan on the relative to visit, even though they are not local.
It is great that you are living independently!
Most local community service agencies have a list of volunteer drivers that will provide this service for a very low fee. Just do not inform if you'll be alone post-op because they'll deny you the service; you have to say that a friend or family member will arrive as soon as you get home and call them, or some such.
I'm sorry that you're in a place where you don't have family or friends that you'd be comfortable asking this favor of, but I've been there myself and had to fool the same day surgery center (easier done as a retired RN) and convince them that I had someone to stay with me for 24 hrs post-procedure. In reality, I took a 4 hr bus ride to that city, stayed in a hotel, and had a taxi drive me to and from the same day surgery and then did an overnight in the hotel before taking the long distance bus back home the following day. I had to use a walker and the ppl were all very accommodating.
I trust that you'll get this worked out and pls have someone check in on you by phone at the least while in the first 24-48 hrs after surgery, just to be safe.
I trust that all goes well and your recovery is quick.