Thank you for your interest in our Medical Escort program. We have made the difficult decision to pause this program in Boston and Brookline starting April 30, 2026. We understand how important it can be to have a caring and supportive volunteer friend with you while attending healthcare appointments. We anticipate this pause lasting at least 8-12 months (likely through June 2027) and hope we can revisit this decision as we evaluate over the coming year how best to use our resources to support older adults.

PLEASE NOTE: The Medical Escort program is still available in Newton.

Our "Ride & Thrive: Healthcare, Transportation and Medical Escort Guide" will remain on our website. Available in both English and Spanish this guide can assist you in identifying options for transportation to your medical appointments. Also the council on aging in your community may have volunteers or know of other programs in the area. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Why Medical Escorts?

Older adults may face certain challenges that make it difficult for them to attend medical appointments. The Medical Escort program provides a simple solution:

Caring Medical Escorts offer comfort, reassurance, and mobility/navigation assistance to elders (60+ years of age, or 55+ for those with vision or hearing impairments) beginning inside the home, continuing to the doctor’s office and appointment room, and ending with a safe return back inside the home. With a Medical Escort, older adults can enjoy companionship and support to and from their medical appointments and receive the healthcare they need.

“Without this program, far too many seniors would not get the care they need.”
Medical Escort volunteer

Getting to a Medical Appointment with support from a FriendshipWorks Medical Escort.

How It Works

Medical Escort volunteers can:

Lend a hand or an arm when mobility is an issue
Navigate hospitals
Accompany you into the exam room
Take notes if requested
Help understand doctors’ instructions
Pick up prescriptions
Accompany you to lab or pharmacy
Help access Tele-medicine appointments
Work with transportation services

Please note: FriendshipWorks does not provide transportation to or from the medical appointment. However, we do offer a free Medical Escort and Transportation Guide for individuals to arrange their appointment transportation. Requests for medical escort services require 14 business days' notice in advance of a medical appointment. This time allows our coordinators to identify and schedule an appropriate volunteer for your escort.