Level 2 · Assisted Care

Wheelchair transportation that actually shows up.

Reliable, dignified rides for patients who walk with assistance or travel in a wheelchair — designed around the realities of dialysis, therapy, and recurring medical care in Greater Houston.

The Problem

When transportation becomes the hardest part of healthcare.

You called three different transport companies. One didn't answer. One quoted you a fortune. The third said yes, then didn't show up on Tuesday — your mom missed dialysis, and you took a half day off work to drive her yourself.

If this sounds familiar, it's because it's the standard experience for thousands of Houston families dealing with non-emergency medical transport. Wheelchair-accessible rides are scarce. Driver quality is inconsistent. Pickup times are aspirational. And the families who need the service most — those caring for aging parents, recovering spouses, or chronically ill loved ones — pay the highest price when it fails.

You shouldn't have to choose between your job and your loved one's chemotherapy appointment. You shouldn't have to nervously call dispatch twenty minutes before pickup to "confirm" they're still coming. And you shouldn't have to settle for transport that treats your family member like a delivery.

What's at Stake

Every missed pickup has downstream consequences.

Unreliable medical transport isn't just frustrating — it's medically dangerous and emotionally expensive.

Missed dialysis sessions raise mortality risk. Skipping treatments leads to fluid buildup, electrolyte imbalance, and ER admissions. Reliable transport literally extends life.
Late chemo and radiation appointments disrupt protocols. Cancer treatment timing matters. A no-show driver becomes a setback in your loved one's entire treatment plan.
Family caregivers burn out faster. Adult children who drive parents to every appointment are at higher risk of depression, job loss, and chronic stress.
Dignity erodes quickly. Being shoved into a vehicle by rushed, untrained drivers — or arriving 45 minutes late, sweating in the Houston heat — is dehumanizing. Patients stop wanting to go.
Insurance and facility relationships break down. Discharge planners and nursing homes that lose trust in their transport partner stop referring them — leaving the patient to figure it out themselves.

The Astra Solution

What wheelchair transport should feel like.

Astra Mobility's Wheelchair & Ambulatory service was designed from the ground up around the failures we kept hearing about. Here's what makes it different:

10–15 minutes early. Always. Our drivers build buffer into every route. We're in the driveway before the appointment time — never scrambling to make it.
Door-through-door, not curb-to-curb. We come into the home, assist with mobility, and stay with the client through the destination's front door. We don't drop people at the curb.
Recurring trip lock-in. Tell us your dialysis schedule once. We hold those slots permanently, with the same driver when possible. No re-booking every week.
Trained, certified, background-checked drivers. CPR + First Aid + passenger assist training + national background checks. Drivers who treat your loved one like family — because they understand the weight of the job.
Real-time family communication. Optional pickup, arrival, and return text updates so you know exactly where things stand — without calling dispatch.
Modern, sanitized, climate-controlled vehicles. ADA-compliant wheelchair lifts, securement systems inspected before every shift, and vehicles cleaned between every trip — not "sometimes," every time.
Transparent flat-rate pricing. Quoted upfront. Matched on the invoice. No fuel surcharges, no surprise minimums, no nickel-and-diming.

Book a wheelchair ride Call (832) 555-0100

Who It's For

Wheelchair & ambulatory transport is the right fit when…

Recurring dialysis appointments

2–4 sessions per week, multiple months in a row. We build a permanent schedule and stick to it — including holidays and weekends.

Physical & occupational therapy

Post-stroke rehab, joint replacement recovery, balance therapy. We get them there fresh and home rested.

Doctor & specialist visits

Cardiologist, oncologist, ophthalmologist, neurologist — any scheduled appointment where mobility assistance is needed.

Lab work & imaging

Quick wait-and-return appointments where the client just needs a ride, a hand to the door, and someone reliable to take them home.

Nursing home & assisted living residents

Recurring transports from facility to provider for routine medical care. We coordinate directly with the facility's care team.

Family visits & quality-of-life trips

Holidays, family gatherings, religious services. Mobility-impaired clients don't have to stop participating in life just because driving themselves isn't an option.

Real Houston Families

The relief is real. And it's earned every ride.

"My father has dialysis Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Astra's been picking him up at 5:45 AM for four months and they've never been late once. Their driver knows him by name."

Andre C. Son · Pearland, TX

"I'm a social worker placing patients into transport every day. Astra is one of three I trust. They pick up the phone, they show up, and they communicate when something changes. That's rare."

Latisha H., LMSW Discharge Coordinator · Houston

"I use a power chair and getting to PT was always a guessing game with other companies. Astra's drivers know how to secure my chair properly and don't rush me. I feel safe with them."

Maria R. Wheelchair user · Sugar Land, TX

Honest Answers

The questions everyone asks before booking.

"I've been burned before — what's actually different about Astra?"

Fair question. Three things: (1) We don't dispatch to a pool of contractor drivers — our crew is W-2 staff, trained and accountable to us. (2) We measure on-time performance against your scheduled pickup, not a 30-minute "arrival window." (3) Our dispatch desk is run by people in Houston who answer calls — not an offshore call center routing tickets. Try one ride. You'll feel the difference.

"Isn't this going to be way more expensive than Uber/Lyft?"

For a quick ride to a non-medical destination? Yes, probably. But ride-share doesn't carry wheelchair lifts, isn't insured for medical passengers, doesn't help your loved one out of the house and into the vehicle, and doesn't accept insurance or Medicaid MTM billing. For private pay, our flat rates are very competitive with other NEMT providers — and we don't add hidden fees.

"My loved one has dementia. Can your drivers handle that?"

Yes. Our drivers receive training specifically on memory-care passengers — slow, calm communication; familiar routines; not rushing transitions; and not engaging in arguments. We can also coordinate with caregivers for "warm hand-offs" at pickup and arrival to keep your loved one oriented.

"What if I need to cancel or reschedule?"

Cancellations more than 4 hours before pickup are free. Within 4 hours, we charge a small dispatch fee to cover the driver's time. For recurring schedules, you can pause and resume anytime by calling dispatch — we'll hold your slot.

"Does Medicaid or my insurance pay for this?"

Often yes. Texas Medicaid offers a non-emergency medical transportation benefit through MTM brokers, and we're credentialed in their network. Many Medicare Advantage plans also include a transportation benefit. Call dispatch with your insurance information and we'll verify coverage — usually within a business day.

"How do I know your drivers are safe?"

Every Astra driver passes a national criminal background check, motor vehicle record check, and drug screening before their first shift. They're CPR and First Aid certified, trained in passenger assistance and HIPAA-aware communication, and receive ongoing training. We can provide credentials documentation on request.

"Can the same driver pick up my mom every time?"

For recurring schedules, we make this our goal. Familiarity matters — both for the client's comfort and for catching subtle health changes the driver might notice. We can't guarantee 100% (drivers take days off), but it's the standard we work toward.