If you're helping an aging parent get to their appointments, you already know the drill. You check the calendar, ask your boss for the afternoon off, drive across town, help Mom or Dad into the car, wrangle the wheelchair into the trunk, sit in the waiting room, and then do it all in reverse. Then you go back to work and catch up on everything you missed.

You do it because you love them. But it doesn't have to fall on you every single time. There's a safer, easier way to make sure your parent gets where they need to go, and it doesn't cost you a vacation day.

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A family car wasn't built for this

Most of us never got any training on how to safely move someone who uses a wheelchair, walker, or other assistive device. We just figure it out. And most of the time it works fine, until it doesn't.

I know this one personally. I'm Tom Sikkema, Founder & CEO of Ride YourWay, and my grandparents lived with us for much of my childhood. As they got older, my family ran into this exact situation. Getting them safely in and out of the car and to their appointments became a real challenge, and we were figuring it out as we went, just like so many families do today. Fun fact: my grandmother ended up being Ride YourWay's very first passenger!

A transfer from a wheelchair to a car seat is one of the most common moments for a fall. A loose wheelchair or walker in the back seat can become a real hazard in a sudden stop. And if your parent stays in their chair, a regular vehicle simply doesn't have the equipment to secure it properly.

None of this means you've been doing anything wrong. It just means this is a job that deserves the right training and the right equipment.

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Why our training makes the difference

Ride YourWay is Michigan's first transportation provider to earn national accreditation from NEMTAC, the Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Accreditation Commission. That's not a sticker we bought. It means an independent national body reviewed how we hire, train, operate, and keep riders safe, and confirmed we meet their standards.

Here's what that looks like for your parent:

• Trained and certified transportation specialists. Every driver is trained to help with safe transfers, assist riders using wheelchairs and walkers, and treat your parent with patience and respect.
• Proper securement, every time. Our specialists know how to correctly secure a wheelchair and the person in it, so nothing shifts during the ride. We use Q'STRAINT wheelchair securement systems along with a lap and shoulder belt for the rider, which is widely considered the safest way to transport someone who stays seated in their wheelchair.
• The right vehicle for the need. We offer ambulatory rides, wheelchair-accessible vans, and stretcher alternative transportation, so your parent rides in a vehicle that actually fits how they get around. Much of our fleet is made up of BraunAbility wheelchair vans, one of the most trusted names in wheelchair van conversions.

When you hand your parent off to us, you're handing them to people who do this all day, every day, the right way.

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Come along, or stay at work. Either way, we've got the ride.

A 30 minute doctor's visit can easily eat up half your day once you add in the drive, the wait, and the ride home. If your parent has regular appointments like dialysis, physical therapy, or specialist visits, those hours add up fast. When you can't get away from work, you shouldn't have to choose between your job and your parent's care.

With Ride YourWay, you have options. If you can't make it, we'll pick your parent up at home, get them safely to their appointment, and bring them back. You can stay at work knowing Mom or Dad is in good hands.

And if you want to be there? We think that's great. Having a loved one in the room to listen, ask questions, and advocate can make a real difference, and sometimes it's necessary. As a registered nurse myself, I encourage it. That's why any loved one can ride along to the appointment free of charge. When you book, we'll just ask who's coming along so we can send a vehicle with the right amount of room.

What we don't want is anyone transporting their parent in a vehicle that can't safely handle their needs. You focus on being there for them. We'll take care of getting there.

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What a ride with us looks like

1. You book the trip. Give us a call or book online. Tell us where your parent is going, when, and whether they use a wheelchair, walker, or other device.
2. We meet them at the door. A trained transportation specialist arrives on time and helps your parent safely from their home to the vehicle.
3. We secure them properly. If they ride in their wheelchair, it's locked down and they're buckled in the right way before we ever pull out of the driveway.
4. We get them there and back. We drop them off at their appointment and bring them safely home when they're done.

No insurance hoops to jump through. As a private pay customer, you book directly with us and we take it from there.

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Questions to ask any transportation provider

Whether you call us or someone else, you deserve to know who's driving your parent and how they'll keep them safe. Not every provider is held to the same standard, and the cheapest ride isn't always the safest one. Here are the questions I'd ask before booking:

1. Are you accredited, and by whom? National accreditation like NEMTAC means an outside organization has reviewed the company's safety, training, and operations.
2. What training do your drivers receive? Ask specifically about passenger assistance, safe transfers, and wheelchair securement, and whether drivers are certified.
3. How do you secure a wheelchair? Look for a four-point securement system plus a lap and shoulder belt for the rider. A lap belt alone, or no belt at all, isn't enough.
4. What kind of vehicles do you use? Ask whether they're purpose-built wheelchair vans from a reputable manufacturer and how often they're inspected and maintained.
5. Do you run background checks and drug screening on drivers? You're trusting this person with someone you love.
6. Will the driver help my parent from the door, or just the curb? Know exactly how much hands-on help to expect before the day of the ride.
7. What happens if an appointment runs long? Ask how pickups are handled so your parent isn't left waiting.
8. Are you properly insured? Make sure the company carries commercial insurance for passenger transportation.

We'll happily answer every one of these when you call Ride YourWay. We think you should ask them of everyone.

One of the questions we hear most: "Can you get my parent down the stairs in their wheelchair?"

We'll be upfront: no, we can't. Safely moving someone in a wheelchair down a flight of stairs takes specialized equipment that's typically only used by EMS providers. It's outside of what we do, and we won't put your parent at risk to take a trip we aren't equipped to handle safely.

If a provider tells you they can do it, ask exactly how and with what equipment. It's one of the best ways to find out how seriously a company takes safety.

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Let us take the next appointment

You've spent years making sure your parent is cared for. Let us help carry some of that load. Your parent gets a safe, comfortable ride with a trained professional, and you get your day back.

Ready to book or have questions? Call us at 616-855-6800 or contact us online to schedule your parent's next ride. We'd be honored to get them there safely.

Here's to removing the barriers that keep the people we love from living their best lives.

Tom