So I've been checking into hiring a company to transport my loved one from MS to CA. I've gotten three quotes so far. Is there a company that anyone has personally used and can recommend? They are all pretty pricey, lowest quote is 11K but that company does not have room for a passenger to travel with the patient and my loved one has dementia so don't want them to not have a familiar face on such a long ride. Thank you.
this is a tough situation.
I looked into it once when my in-laws were “misplaced” due to a hurricane.
One of my options was to hire a moonlighting EMT person to accompany me on the trip in a private vehicle.
I was so distressed that they were in an ALF far from home and then both ended up in a hospital. MIL with jaundice from newly diagnosed cancer and FIL from a diabetic coma/fall.
SIL whose home had been washed away now in a hotel was finally able to arrange for FEMA to bring them to their home town.
I had a NH lined up for the end destination. Night before the NH bailed saying they were afraid they would “fail to meet my expectations”. I was devastated.
Longer story but I found another NH, which had actually been my first choice.
The morning of the move, FIL passed.
MIL, with pancreatic cancer, dementia, just cleared of MRSA, and having lost her husband of 66 years made the trip alone with FEMA supplied transport. She did fine.
This was “only” an 8 hour trip.
Then all I had to do was get FIL body home for burial. This was in Oct. of 2008. One month later MIL passed. I think I had PTSD over this whole ordeal.
With one person and if there is service all the way, I would fly.
Airlines are really good at assisting and if anything went wrong you would have help all around you.
Below is a link you can copy and paste for others who have had this issue.
Or just enter long distance transport in the search here on aging care.
You might find helpful ideas.
Let us know how it goes.
Good Luck
!https://www.agingcare.com/search?term=Long+distance+transport
At least with a small camper you will not have to make the bathroom stops and sleeping while someone is driving is an option.
This trip should be discussed with her doctor and make sure that any medications that might be needed to control anxiety are available.
This might work if she has no need for medical care while in transit.
Faster would be a flight.
Make sure you notify the airline that you are traveling with a disabled person and you need wheelchair assistance. Again medication might be helpful and again best with 2 people.
I can tell you that this is NOT a trip I would want to make. I did a visit to a friend with my Husband ( I cam to the realization a day or two before I was to leave that he could not be left alone) and the trip was a nightmare. I could not get a hotel, he would have tried to escape, I could not sleep in the car because he kept trying to leave the care and wanting to drive. That was "only" a 1200 mile trip, about 19 hours.