About Us
Connections to Care (formerly Escorted Transportation Service) has always been more than a ride to a medical or dental appointment. It has been, and will continue to be, about creating connections. About showing compassion and offering companionship. About helping older adults in our community remain independent and healthy.
Connections to Care was founded in 2006 with the sole goal, of providing reliable, volunteer-based, accompanied transportation for the older adults in our community to get to their essential medical and dental appointments. Our amazing volunteers pick up the older adult at their home, drive them to their appointment, assist them into the medical office, wait for them and drive them home. All while providing caring and camaraderie.
Our service also gives family members of our older adults peace of mind. Whether they work, live out-of-the-area, have other commitments or simply need some additional assistance, family members can be confident that Connections to Care will get their loved one to his/her crucial medical appointments.
With Connections to Care, older adults remain healthy, independent and connected.
We are More than a Ride. We are A Connection.
In 2023…
… all while remaining healthy and safe.
“This is truly a tremendous organization. I’ve always been impressed with everything Connections to Care does. Very professional in its approach to everything. After close to four years I still feel enthused and fully committed.”
“I am 92 years young and live alone in a HUD building. Connections to Care has been a God sent to me. I love (Connections to Care Program Director) and don’t know what I would do without her. She is so very patient with me. Every single driver has been wonderful to me.”
Connections to Care was awarded the 2024 Non-Profit Organization of the Year by the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce, in recognition of our work in the community!
A Lift to Health
Our Services
Connections to Care provides accompanied transportation for older adults in the NW Suburbs of Chicago to get to their crucial medical and dental appointments. Our caring volunteers pick up you up at your home, drive you to your appointment, assist you into the medical office, wait for you and drive you home.
We Provide Rides For:
- regular checkups
- vision screenings
- blood and lab tests
- wound care
- dialysis
- pacemaker checks
- dentist visits
We are the ideal choice for older adults who wish to remain an integral part of their community and remain independent.
Passengers must be 60+, living within our territory and be able to get into and out of car independently. Our service is available by appointment only and a minimum of one week’s advance notice is required. In addition, a simple application must be filled out and on file before we’ll accept any ride requests. A $15 donation is requested for each round-trip ride. All volunteer drivers are trained, have been background checked and are provided with additional insurance.
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to provide rides:
- When anesthesia is involved: We are unable to provide transportation for visits when any type of anesthesia has been administered (ie., colonoscopy, day surgeries, etc.).
- To anyone requiring a wheelchair: Our volunteers are unable to lift any passenger and/or a wheelchair. A passenger must be able to get into and out of a car independently. Walkers and canes are allowed.
Adopt a Senior
Connections to Care asks for a $15 per round trip donation to help cover our administrative costs in providing trips to doctors, treatments, and therapists. Not all of our riders can afford to make this donation, but as a non-profit serving the community, we of course serve these passengers too. However, this puts an over $2,500 dent in our budget annually, limiting our ability to further serve the community.
Would you be interested in contributing to a special fund for riders in these situations? If so, please reach out at info@connectionstocare.org or 847-222-9227. Or, you can donate directly online!