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My mom is legally blind. AL administrator said they would guide her to her seat on the little bus. They will also get her to the right place and get her checked in with the doctor’s office. I’m concerned about the steps on the bus and her possibly falling. Has anyone had experience with the medical transport at an assisted living facility?

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Someone will help her when it comes to the steps.
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The facility could face lawsuits if they’re negligent, so I’m sure they are very careful. They’re professionals. She’s probably more safe with them than with you or a neighbor.
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My parents were in AL for 4 years and never had issues with the mini bus. The driver was amazing; he helped each resident individually, with their walker or cane, getting them on and off the bus, etc. He even accompanied them into the grocery stores when they were shopping, to corral them all back into the bus at the end of the allotted time. He took a head count to make sure they were all present and accounted for at the end of the trip, etc. That's a big part of their job, the bus drivers, is to babysit the residents.

If you can't trust the AL and the bus service, you should take her to her medical appointments yourself. That's the only way to know for sure she'll be safe, but that's not a guarantee either since nobody is every 100% 'safe' in a motor vehicle.
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We use the bus service all of the time but I meet her at her appointments. When we are done the bus comes to get her. I am not comfortable transporting her myself. Works great.
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Aside from from being blind, does your mom have the mental capacity to handle a doctors appointment alone? Can she follow instructions and relay to you what the doctor said. I could see using the service if you didn't think you could handle transporting her on your own, but I would have to be in attendance for the trip.
This seems like a lot to be trusting the AL facility with and it seems like a lot for your mom not to have someone with her that she knows.
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Are you meeting her at the doctors office for her appointments?
If not is anyone going to be there? Does she fully understand what is told to her and will she relate any information to you and to the AL staff if they need to be made aware of any changes to medication, diet, or any other aspect of her care?
The transportation at the IL, AL,, MC are reliable. The driver or drivers know the residents. they will take the time needed to get them settled into a seat and make sure they are comfortable. In most cases they have the same CDL license that a Bus Driver has and they have to follow the same rules that they do.
If this is the safer way to get her to an appointment rather than you transporting her your other option is to get a Medical Transport to take her. This will cost substantially more than using the Van provided by the Facility.
When my Husband was in a Day Program at a local MC facility I would often join them when there was a place that they would take them for lunch that I thought my Husband would like. The staff getting people on and off the bus were amazing. The driver greeted each and every one, made sure each was secure.
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Good suggestions / supportive ideas here.
* You might want to ask the administrator more specifics; as well
* Talk to the drivers personally - get to know them.

In my working with others at a retirement home, the bus drivers are exceptionally caring, considerate, helpful. Some go that extra mile.

* It is important to also find out about possible accidents (falling) liability.
I do not know if the facility would be responsible for injury to a loved one during transporting (although they are, of course, insured).
It is important that you ask what the facility liability is in these situations.
Accidents / falls can happen. It likely isn't the legal responsibility of the driver if a resident on the bus falls / has an accident.

Gena / Touch Matters
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So the transportation at my brother's ALF was excellent. Did all the above and did it well.
Is it the same as you driving Mom, staying with Mom and returning her home? Nope. But it is nexThey t best in a good facility.
I think your question recognizes that you know a fall WILL happen. You are correct. I am 80. My balance at this time, despite walking and being very active, makes me like a feather in the wind. An 150 pound feather. I have fallen. So has my 61 year old daughter. Usually it is a matter of not taking care, tripping on something left unsafe. And so far, knock wood, nothing is busted. But it WILL HAPPEN as certainly as I live, and only NOT living will stop it. I think you understand that. They recognize your Mom is blind and in need of extra care. I wish you all good luck and hope Mom has safe and happy trips. My bro used to go not only to appointments, but shopping and to movies with the transit. Was he in danger. Yes. He was. But it wasn't a fall that took him finally. Life just cannot be predicted.
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You and your mother will need to decide for yourselves what her comfort level is and, also what your comfort level is with using any transportation services especially considering her vision challenges.

You and she will need to decide if you will both be " ok" if something should happen and she fall or have other challenges not foreseen.

Is your mother comfortable with the transportation arrangement?

Her level of comfort and her decisions,requests should be honored as " patient rights".

One also needs to ask oneself if you will live with guilt if anything should happen that could have been prevented by someone taking the time to go with her.

Highly personal decisions.
Pray about ......
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my husband’s Al/MC residence does a great job at transporting to and from appointments. For a small fee, an aide will accompany the resident through the appointment of a family member can’t be there. All around it is terrific. Wish you the same!
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Medical transport knows how to get someone on and off their bus. I wouldn't worry so much about that. If you want to know what is discussed during the visit, I strongly urge you to attend the appointment or send friend/family to do so.

You might also want to ask mom if she is comfortable riding the transport bus. She may want a family member to do this sort of thing with her.
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Ajag48: My mother was also a legally blind woman whose handicap was low vision. She lived alone, though not in an AL and used her town's COA (Council on Aging's) services for transportation to grocery stores, retail therapy (shopping) and doctor appointments BY HERSELF. When her vision declined, my cousin accompanied her to doctor appointments.

Perhaps you should speak to the AL administrator and also the driver of the van to ensure its handicap accessibility.
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Aside from the transport, iIf you are not local, perhaps you can have the doctor call you so you can "be in the appointment with her"? As a sighted person, even I sometimes have to refer to notes from a doctor....being blind, she can't. You can take notes, or have the notes sent to you as well. =)
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My Mom loves the bus (van) at the AL/MC. They are all gently put on, wheelchairs chained into place and driven. The aides get them on/off the bus and I'm sure there is at least one aide on the bus besides the driver.

Our county bus also has a Handivan for the elderly and handicapped individuals. Other than being unreliable for time, the courtesy and helpfulness getting on and off the bus, on and off their chair is simply amazingly patient (usually the reason for the unreliable on time).

Our regular buses also are very patient and kind to the handicapped.

The only medical transport that seems rather rough is the private handicapped/medical taxis (one person to a vehicle). They seem to care more about getting the person to where they are supposed to go, versus comfort of the individual.
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They may get her there okay but what about the visit.

Does she need an advocate? What about assistance at the office if she needs the restroom? Who will get her to the pickup spot? What about emergency evacuation?

I could go on and on with these questions. I could go on and on because my daughter was legally blind from a brain tumor (she went to heaven in 2016). She relied on public transportation if I was not available . Although her drivers were all wonderful they only assist so much. And if you miss the pickup time your are stuck.

Getting of the bus can be dangerous. My daughter fell off the steps and broke her leg.

If you mom goes on the bus she would probably qualify for having a person to assist. The assisting person probably would ride for free.

Does your mom have her state’s Medicade? If so she may qualify for a program called In Home Support Services. After your mom qualifies she can choose a helper from the list. This person could either go on the bus with her or transport her themselves.

I would also check with your local Braille Institute (if you already have not done) about any assistance, ideas, etc and perhaps some mobility training .
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BurntCaregiver Jan 2023
Usedup1959

Good points. The AL is not going to send an aide to accompany the mother to her doctor's appointment and go in with her. There will have to be someone hired to do that.
Nursing homes don't even do that. I had a client some years back who was pretty much out of it with dementia and had serious mobility issues. She couldn't even stay in the wheelchair for more than half an hour on a good day.
She went into a nursing home for a couple weeks for respite stay. She had doctor's appointments during that time which the NH was supposed to get her to.
Their transport dropped her off on a stretcher in the lobby of the building where her doctor was located and left. No identification on her. No note taped to her saying her name and what doctor she was seeing.
One of the medical assistants from her doctor's practice recognized her when she was going to her lunch break and called my cellphone because I was the number on file. I was on vacation and told them to call the nursing home which they did.
When dealing with an AL or NH it's not safe to assume they will do anything. If someone is going to depend on an AL or a NH to take someone somewhere, you have to make sure every detail is covered.
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