Transportation is one of our most-used services at Papa—and for good reason. For many members, getting around town isn’t just about the ride. It’s about feeling supported along the way. With Papa, members don’t just get a lift—they get a reliable, familiar presence who can lend a hand, offer encouragement, and make the whole journey more enjoyable.
Papa Pals show up when, where, and how members need them. No set pickup windows or shared ride schedules to work around. Papa Pals are happy to give a hand down the stairs, help with mobility aids, wait during an errand or appointment, and make stops along the way.
When surveyed, approximately 1 in 5 Papa members said they face transportation barriers to get to medical appointments, pick up prescriptions, or attend social gatherings. Papa helps ease this burden.
And the companionship that happens on these transportation visits might be the biggest Papa perk of all. Members going through challenging times need more than just a drop-off. Having someone to talk to about their struggles and to provide support can be just as important as the ride itself.
Meet Papa member Deborah
Deborah is a former nurse and home health aide in her late 60s. She’s going through a rough patch with severe back and sciatica pain and is attending multiple appointments each month with her primary care physician, chiropractor, and pain management doctor, on top of trips to the pharmacy and surgery center.
She is so grateful for the Papa Pals who get her to and from all of these appointments. “I would rather have someone drive me right now while I’m battling this,” she says. And it’s more than just transportation. The encouragement from her Papa Pals gets Deborah through this painful time.
Deborah knows how much it means to have someone who cares, because she used to be in that same position, taking care of others. “My Papa Pals have been very valuable to me,” she says. “They are absolutely professional, warm, and supportive. I couldn't go through this experience without their help and assistance.”
Meet Papa Pal Regina
Regina is a caretaker at heart who often puts others above herself. In her late 50s, Regina has been taking care of people—her mother, uncles, aunts, and siblings—for most of her life. When she was 20, she helped care for her mom, who became ill and ultimately went into hospice. Recently, she helped support her sister as she recovered from surgery. And she regularly takes her 97-year-old aunt and 79-year-old uncle to their doctors' appointments.
With Regina’s natural bent for caregiving, nursing school made sense. She passed the entrance exam and was doing well, but had to step back due to financial constraints.
When someone told her about Papa, she hoped it would fill that need inside of her to take care of others—and it has. “I love getting to work with Papa,” she says, “because I get to assist in so many ways. I love what I do.”
Regina has been a Papa Pal since November 2023 and has completed over 700 visits. Unsurprisingly, many members have designated Regina as their Preferred Pal, including Deborah.
Deborah is grateful for her Papa Pals’ encouragement
Deborah chose her current insurance plan for one reason: They offered Papa. It’s one of the best decisions she’s made. “I can’t say enough about the ones who have transported me back and forth to my doctor’s appointments,” she says. “It’s been such a positive experience for me.”
Now, when Deborah goes to the doctor, she feels good. She feels safe. Instead of dreading appointments, she looks forward to seeing her Papa Pals. “It makes it so easy for me,” she says. She knows she’ll be greeted with: “Hi, Deborah. How are you? How are you feeling today?” She knows her Papa Pals are there for her, and she loves how that feels.
Deborah designated Regina as one of her Preferred Pals and says she has been “absolutely amazing and wonderful.” She likes that they’re fairly close in age and have much in common. It gives them a lot to chat about in the car. “We talk about growing up, our families, things we went through, music we listen to, our experiences from the past, and school. I’d be lost without it,” she says.
Regina is especially generous with her encouragement. She reminds Deborah that she’s the patient now, and it’s her turn to be taken care of. She reminds her of her strength and that she has reason to keep going. “You can do this,” Regina always tells her. “You can get through this. Don’t ever give up.”
Regina wants her members to know they have purpose
“I want them to know how important they are,” Regina says of her members. She’s seen how older adults—especially those with disabilities—can be overlooked, and it breaks her heart. Having watched people struggle with losing independence, she knows how easy it is to start believing that needing help means losing your value. But Regina wants her members to feel the opposite: that their worth is unconditional, and they still have purpose.
Regina sees caring for older adults as both a calling and a way to give back. “My purpose has been to be a caretaker,” she says. “That’s just what I do.” She reminds us that our parents and grandparents cared for us, and now it’s our turn. Whether it’s offering a listening ear, a ride to the grocery store, company at the doctor’s office, or simply someone to play a game with, Regina meets her members where they are—and makes sure they never feel like a burden. “It’s a privilege and a joy to take care of them,” she says.
She’s passionate about helping her members feel seen and loved, particularly when they’re going through dark times. “Sometimes they feel like they can’t do this anymore,” she says. “But I don’t want them to give up. They have purpose here.” And they remind Regina of that, too. Many express deep gratitude and pour wisdom back into her. “As much as I’m giving to them,” she says, “they’re giving to me.”
A ride—and a relationship
More than 30% of visits across Papa’s book of business include transportation, and these visits receive an impressive rating of 4.9 out of 5 on average. Transportation's physical, tangible support is important, but the emotional support is equally valuable.
Regina’s members often tell her, “You are doing more than you realize. You’re keeping us alive by just letting us know we’re valued.”
She says you never know who you might have just talked off a ledge. “When I come home, I feel like I helped them one more day just to understand that they’re important.” But honestly? “They’re probably giving me more than I’m giving them.”
Social connection drives our Papa Pals as they drive our members where they need to go, through good times and bad. “I have the greatest Papa Pals,” Deborah says. “It’s just been absolutely the best experience I’ve ever had.”
