I love the car I drive, but I’ve hated going to the dealer for car service.
In the four decades that I’ve lived with MS, my walking has deteriorated to the point where I use a scooter if I have to walk more than 75 feet. If I do walk, I need to use two canes and wear a Bioness L300 Go electric stimulator to counter my foot drop.
My problem at the dealership has been two-fold. First, standing at the car service counter to fill out paperwork takes a toll. Then, I need to walk about 50 feet and climb six steps to reach the service department’s waiting room.
I could use my travel scooter and ride up a ramp, but getting the scooter in and out of the car and using it for such a short distance is a nuisance. It’s good for me to walk a little once in a while, but it certainly isn’t easy.
So, after buying a Lincoln for the first time, I was delighted to discover that Lincoln offers a free loaner car with — get this — pickup and delivery included. The service is available to all owners and lessees of 2017 or newer models.
It wasn’t a slam-dunk, however. The first time I tried to use the service, the person making my appointment wasn’t aware of it, and it was more trouble than it was worth to find someone who was. I took my car to the dealer, walked, and then waited for it the old-fashioned way.
But I also used the time waiting to locate the appropriate person at the dealer. That made all the difference the next time I needed service.
A much better car service experience
When I made my next appointment, I was armed with the name and phone extension of the person who arranges loaner cars and knows about what Lincoln calls its “Concierge Service.” It required only a five-minute call and my license and insurance information.
“We’ll bring a loaner to you,” I was told. “It’ll be there at 9:15 Tuesday morning, and the driver will text you when he’s on the way.”
He did and it was. Ten minutes later, the driver was handing me a single piece of paper to sign and the keys to the car. Then, off he went with mine. The reverse process took place the next day. Very slick.
Now, I know I’m very fortunate to be able to afford a Lincoln. But this type of service could, and should, be available to anyone with a mobility disability. What would it take for people with a handicap to lobby all of the car dealers we use to do the same thing that Lincoln is doing? It seems as if the good publicity this would generate would offset the small cost of this type of service.
Another kind of door-to-door service
Many people with a handicap have trouble getting to medical appointments. They may not have access to a car, and sometimes, mass transit may not be available to them.
A couple of years ago, I wrote about a company called Circulation, now called ModivCare. It’s among several businesses, including Roundtrip and Kaizen Health, that use web technology to coordinate patients, healthcare providers, and transit services. A patient is picked up, taken to a medical office, and returned home. Medicare, Medicaid, and some private insurance companies may pay the cost of the rides. Some of these ride-coordination companies have forged associations with Lyft and Uber to obtain discounts.
If you’re missing healthcare appointments because of a transportation problem, you should look into these services. Also, it couldn’t hurt to ask the person who services your car about pickup services. Every little bit helps when you have MS.
Have you taken a look at my book, We’re Not Drunk, We Have MS? It’s designed for MS newbies but it’s full of useful information for anyone who has questions about MS. See the paperback here and the ebook here.
(A version of this post first appeared as my column on the MS News Today website.)
(Featured photo by FABIANNE SIBBIO from Pixabay.)
