Taxis for elderly people?

[The Gauge]

I'm sure there will be lots of advice I need over coming months relating to helping my 80yr old mother but to start with it's arranging taxis for her...

Background is she's 80 and has fibrosis meaning she quickly gets out of breath and can't walk far, and sadly she'll get worse. She has an active social life but is losing confidence driving meaning we may try to convince her to sell her car and help her arrange taxis so she can continue to go out.

She has problems getting into low cars so she'll need to know that the taxi that arrives is suitable for getting into. What's the best way to arrange this? Would it be her booking an Uber and selecting a SUV type car, or phoning the local taxi company and requesting suitable car? A black cab/Hackney carriage may be best, but can these be booked privately? She'll probably need one most days of the week so having an easy system would help her.

Thanks.

[Skyedriver]

Get speaking to the local taxi firms, fond one that inspires confidence, sure they'll be able to come up with a plan/private hire type arrangement.
Understand the situation, my FiL is 87 and from driving 250 mile stints 18 months ago he's now shuffling around with a zimmer thing.

[AmitG]

I have a similar situation with my dad. My advice is to call a trustworthy local taxi company and explain what you need. They should be able to oblige and they can also take care of the regular schedule, maybe even give you a discount. If you get an account with them then your mum can just call them whenever needed and you can settle the bill (if you want to do it that way).

That is what I did - I have an account with a local minicab company, my dad can call up and they know who he is and take care of him, they are generally really nice and we often pay them a bit extra as thanks.

With Uber you're leaving a lot down to luck IMHO, the drivers may not have the patience required, and it also depends on how good your mother is with a smartphone.

[The Gauge]

Thanks. Local taxi firm sounds the best bet then,

I initially thought it would be nice for her to get to know a few drivers with suitable cars and be able to contact them directly, but I assume for insurance and payment on account they'd need to be booked via the taxi firm.

[Puzzles]

It’s area dependent but our local one is highly recommended

https://drivingmissdaisy.co.uk/

[cavey76]

Been there done this.

We found a local firm, this is Belfast mind, so not the greatest centre of customer experience but the likely benefit you have is mum is unlikely to be going anywhere <9am in the morning where these guys are usually busy, likewise at the back end of the day, your Mum is unlikely to clash with rush hour. I set a system where i dropped by their offices once a fortnight and paid up her account.

The odd tin of Quality St/£10 tip into the dispatchers offices on behalf of "Brigid from the care home" meant her phone was answered pretty much first time and a suitable car found. We had their number programmed into her mobile - her mobile has ours, her other two kids and a couple of close friends plus "Drivers". She got to quiet enjoy calling her Driver to bring her from A to B.

[nismocat]

Puzzles said:

It’s area dependent but our local one is highly recommended

https://drivingmissdaisy.co.uk/

Good idea.

I am more impressed with their business model of franchising the idea out! Taxi/private hire is a cut throat business where most drivers struggle to earn a crust. Amazed someone found a niche market!

[Roofless Toothless]

Do they have a Dial-a-Ride scheme where she lives? I have no idea of the scope of these things, but they were set up with exactly these problems in mind, and even in this day and age may still offer a solution.

[edthefed]

We had something similar....had a variety of drivers from the local Hackney / Taxi office (not private hire) eventually identified one who was fantastic with mum.

She has his number and now just arranges direct with him - any doubts and he rings us to confirm.

We settle the bill every couple of weeks.

"Wheelchair" taxi drivers seem better at dealing with the elderly

[The Gauge]

Mum will be attending more and more hospital appointments in the coming months. Not sure if the hospital has a minibus collection service, and if so whether she would even want that. Probably lots of waiting around for it to arrive and long routes to/from the hospital picking up & dropping folk off? Think I'd rather take her myself or have taxis for her.

[vaud]

The Gauge said:

Thanks. Local taxi firm sounds the best bet then,

I initially thought it would be nice for her to get to know a few drivers with suitable cars and be able to contact them directly, but I assume for insurance and payment on account they'd need to be booked via the taxi firm.

Look on the local town/village facebook sites to see which smaller companies are recommended.

Our local taxi company has a small fleet and always looks after the senior citizens - help them with shopping, don't honk their horn outside the house, etc

[ALPandy90]

edthefed said:

We had something similar....had a variety of drivers from the local Hackney / Taxi office (not private hire) eventually identified one who was fantastic with mum.

She has his number and now just arranges direct with him - any doubts and he rings us to confirm.

We settle the bill every couple of weeks.

"Wheelchair" taxi drivers seem better at dealing with the elderly

This is what we arranged for an elderly relative years ago. He would take her to the shops once a week at the same time, and would often do his own shopping at the same time. She would call him directly maybe once or twice a week for other trips and visits too.

[The Gauge]

It's at the stage now where mum needs someone to visit most days to help with things, so she's applied for and is now receiving attendance allowance of £100/week which I think is a good amount. The day may soon come when she has to pay for carers to visit, so at least she has some funding in place for that.

Edited by The Gauge on Thursday 24th October 19:19

[K87]

It may be out of date info but in Melbourne a taxi without a fare has to stop and pick up an elderly person at a bus stop and take them to their destination for the cost of the bus fare.

[The Gauge]

K87 said:

It may be out of date info but in Melbourne a taxi without a fare has to stop and pick up an elderly person at a bus stop and take them to their destination for the cost of the bus fare.

Wow. Worth standing at a bus stop if you're elderly and are going long distance

[K87]

The Gauge said:

K87 said:

It may be out of date info but in Melbourne a taxi without a fare has to stop and pick up an elderly person at a bus stop and take them to their destination for the cost of the bus fare.

Wow. Worth standing at a bus stop if you're elderly and are going long distance

...and hiding if a bus comes along in the meantime.


My mother used to live in Melbourne, there were a number of nice things for the benefit of the elderly.

[Cotty]

Perhaps you could drive her, then she would not have to encounter real people.

[geeks]

nismocat said:

Puzzles said:

It’s area dependent but our local one is highly recommended

https://drivingmissdaisy.co.uk/

Good idea.

I am more impressed with their business model of franchising the idea out! Taxi/private hire is a cut throat business where most drivers struggle to earn a crust. Amazed someone found a niche market!

T'is indeed an excellent idea, surprised there isnt one closer to us given the number if biddies in the area, wonder if there is something else catering for them around here

[The Gauge]

Cotty said:

Perhaps you could drive her, then she would not have to encounter real people.

But then I'd have to say hello to her. We wouldn't want that.