A ride account sounds simple until the morning a ride does not show up. Before you commit to a standing arrangement, the useful work is reading the rules that govern what happens when plans change, which they always do.
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
The booking rules
Ask how far ahead rides must be booked, whether recurring standing rides can be set up, and who is allowed to add, change, or cancel them. Find out the cancellation window and what a no-show costs in terms of rides or fees. Ask whether a same-day change is possible and whether the service has a human to call when the app is not working.
The physical rules
Ask what kind of vehicle is sent and whether it can take a walker or a folding wheelchair. Ask whether the driver helps your parent from the door to the car and into the building, or only waits at the curb. Those two answers decide whether the service fits your parent's walking and balance, and they should be checked against what your parent can actually do on a given day.
The escort and notification rules
Ask whether the driver will wait inside the appointment or leave. Ask whether an escort can ride along and how that is booked. Ask who gets notified when a ride is confirmed, delayed, or cancelled, and whether you can be added to those messages. A standing ride with no notification to a family member is a plan that depends on your parent being able to call for help on their own.
Compare on the same five questions
If you look at two or three services, ask each one the same five questions: how far ahead to book, the cancellation rule, the vehicle and assistance offered, the escort rule, and who gets notified. Write the answers side by side. The one that answers all five in plain language is usually easier to live with than the one with the nicest app.
What to do tonight
Write down the five questions and the three places your parent most often needs to go. Call the first service and ask them. Note who answered and whether they wrote the answers down, since a promise that is not written tends to be forgotten. The local help page on this site lists St. Louis options for arranging this kind of help.
What to leave with the doctor
Bring the list of appointments and the places your parent needs to reach, and ask the doctor whether getting in and out of a vehicle, the length of the trip, and any need for help at the door are safe for your parent's current walking and balance. Then bring the answer back to the ride service so the rules match the need.