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?
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 .
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.
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.
Perhaps you should speak to the AL administrator and also the driver of the van to ensure its handicap accessibility.
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.
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 ......
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.
* 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
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.
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.
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.