Any ideas for how to get grandma safely to church?

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mrsvalentine Asked February 2014

Any ideas for how to get grandma safely to church?

My husband's grandma is 92, has dementia, and recently moved into an assisted living facility. She loves church and we're trying to find a way to help her go as often as possible. We live 6 hours away and take her as often as we can. The assisted living facility doesn't have enough staff to accompany her often. We tried arranging it through the church, but 3 times they were no-shows which just left grandma more disappointed. We've been trying to find a caregiver to take her. She doesn't live in a large town, so we're having trouble finding someone able to work with her special needs. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

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score 0 · Answer 1

I agree with Stephan. The facility should offer that service. Also, you can request his grandma's pastor or priest visit her at the AL.

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score 2 · Answer 2

We hired a private RN to take our mom to a luncheon once a month. I am working on the same for going to church. We feel more comfortable with that due to her diabetes and dementia. They are far more trained than I am at handling these medical issues.

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score 1 · Answer 3

Yes. Let her view services on television. Her church can bring her communion during the week. Having so many different people at church opens her to infections she would not get in her own facility, and it can be very disruptive to the dementia brain to be in an environment where there are not professional personnel to monitor her and events. Let her stay where she is and watch services. God bless her!

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score 2 · Answer 4

Google "Stephen Ministries" and look for a church who ministers through them. They are trained to do just this type of thing; this is a nationwide organization that works in the local churches. Blessings.

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score 2 · Answer 5

The last care facility we used had religious services in house. You might ask them to start one at your grandmother's place --something simple with a volunteer pastor and someone to play the piano. Not the same as going to her church, but easier, safer and less stressful.

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score 1 · Answer 6

I work for a home health nursing service and I know we employ caregivers and I know they've had clients who hire them for the purpose of getting to church. When hiring it's a 2-hour minimum but that would work out with the grandma. The caregiver could help her get ready, take her to church, then make sure grandma gets home ok. I know you said you live in a small town but is there a larger town nearby that would have a home healthcare service?

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score 3 · Answer 7

On the weeks she can't make it, does the church have an online archive or live-streaming? (My small-town church puts Sunday services on YouTube.) Also, is the pastor/priest willing to visit her personally at the facility?

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score 1 · Answer 8

Is there a cab service in town; can you pay to have grandma transported back and forth with folks to watch over her while she's at the service?

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score 1 · Answer 9

you might have to pay someone from the church to transport her b/c of the time it takes to get her ready and out to the car into church and back. you should be able to get someone depending on the miles she needs transported if someone doesn't find it to inconvenient time wise. good luck

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score 2 · Answer 10

It would seem that arranging it through the church should be your best bet. I am sorry that sometimes results in disappointment. In a larger city you could schedule a medi-cab or handicapped transportation company to pick her up and return her once a week, with AL staff helping her on and off at one end, and a church member helping on the other. Does the town or county have that kind of service?

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Any ideas for how to get grandma safely to church?

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