Since 1984, FriendshipWorks has been committed to combating social isolation and loneliness by fostering meaningful connections. We match volunteers with older adults to provide companionship and assistance, enhancing their health and overall quality of life. At the heart of our mission are our volunteers, who help create bonds that bring social, physical, and emotional benefits to both older adults and themselves.
One key way FriendshipWorks supports older adults is by improving their access to healthcare. Our Medical Escort volunteers assist with logistical challenges and help ease the anxiety of attending medical appointments. In 2019, we published our Transportation and Escort Services guide, and in response to the ongoing need for reliable transportation options across Greater Boston, we have now updated it.
Click here to download a PDF of the 2025 Healthcare, Transportation, & Medical Escort Resource Guide
We plan to provide a Spanish translation in the near future.
FriendshipWorks would like to thank the many volunteers, students, and donors, as well as our staff, who have made all of our programs possible. This updated guide would not have been possible without support from the Gould Charitable Foundation and the work of some of our dedicated interns: Jordan Vitale, Viviane Sperb, and Shivangi Jha.
Additional templates and checklists:
Within the Guide there are several additional resources mentioned that are available. Please refer to the pages listed in the Guide for more detail or you can download them here:
Page 16: Thinking About Your Overall Health before a visit. Here are the 4 Ms to keep in mind - Matter, Medication, Mind and Mobility.* Download this handy guide that includes worksheets with questions to help you think about each of these areas. https://www.fw4elders.org/TG4M
*The 4Ms graphic and guide are from an initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in partnership with the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA).
Page 20: Before Your Appointment. Here’s a handy template from JFS (Jewish Family Service) of MetroWest that may help you keep your medical information organized. Download a PDF of the template here: https://www.fw4elders.org/TGMedOrg
Page 25: Tips for Keeping Your Medications Organized. Print out a template to write down your prescription information. Here’s one template for download from JFS MetroWest: https://www.fw4elders.org/TGMedList
Page 39: East Boston Neighborhood Health Center Shuttle Schedule. Download a PDF of the schedule here: https://www.fw4elders.org/TGEBShuttle
Pages 71-72: Health Insurance & Transportation. Depending on your type of health insurance, you may be able to get free transportation especially if you are both Medicare and Medicaid (MassHealth) eligible. To learn more, download the MassHealth Transportation Consumer Brochure here: https://www.fw4elders.org/TGMassHealthBroch
