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Stay with me during the surgery, drive me home, stay with me over night in my home ( One Night ) and drive me to and from the doctors office the next day to ensure there is no infection in my eye or other problem. I am 71 years old on Original Medicare. Is there a bonded Senior Care Agency that can provide these services?

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I have a friend who uses a Visiting Angel at such times. Only certain Visiting Angels have the type of auto insurance that covers such driving, but my friend has been able to find one who does. She now has the Visiting Angel come three afternoons a week because the arrangement has worked out so well. She can afford this -- I couldn't. All of the other suggestions offered here have been good, too; just make sure that the auto insurance coverage is appropriate if you were to call a nursing student, etc.
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Please check out your town's council on aging. There should be a person there whose job it is to care for the elders of the town. They should also have a social worker on staff.
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I also might in this situation myself get an Uber or Lyft driver...and claim they were a niece or nephew if pressed, (sad state of things when we have to lie to get medical care), and have a Senior care person then stay with me for a couple hours.....We need more services for this type of thing. Again, the medical people or center doing this procedure should refer their patients to a driver or care person. They seem to take it so much for granted that everyone has family or someone to take off work, be kind enough, etc. to take them. Our self oriented society sadly has created more isolation and lack of help for our fellow man. Caring for my 93 year old Mom really opened my eyes to the lack of caring and help out there.
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Call your health coverage provider or Medicare/Medicaid and ask what they will pay for. They can often recommend services in your area. My 84-year-old dad was eligible for Lyft services for free through his provider, surprisingly.

If it's short-term care you need beyond just a ride, I'm sure your local area agency on aging can help by providing information.
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Part of the problem is that the surgery is done during business hours, and when all your friends have to be at work it can be difficult to find someone to drive you, especially if the surgery is in the next county as was my case (for a colonoscopy). About 10 1/2 years ago I had a detached retina, and after having had a couple [essentially unsuccessful] surgeries I developed a cataract in that eye (which, I'm told, nearly always happens because of all the "manipulation" that has been done). I wasn't even going to bother having the cataract surgery but I was told it's necessary because the eye can't be examined if the lens is opaque. I drove myself to it, had it performed using, at the most, anesthetic eye drops, and drove back 15 miles to the adjacent county to work right after it. (I told the surgeon it looked as if he were shoveling snow during the process, and he said that's about what it was like.) Because I was already used to driving using one eye, he said I'm allowed to drive afterward, but they probably wouldn't allow it for most other patients.

When I had the first eye surgery, the clinic provided a van to pick me up and take me home. After the second surgery (done in another city), I was able to stay with a friend afterward.
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I have found myself in the same situation - no family, do not know a soul, no help. It is horrible that not a soul here will help someone in an emergency. One time I lied to the doctor and said the driver was waiting outside reading. When he wasn't looking, I ran out to my car. I had been under anesthesia and was forced to drive home, l0 mph. By the grace of god I made it but I felt I was taking my life in my hands. I wish I knew the answer - could any churches help you? Or a cab? I didn't have the money so I was forced to handle things for myself. Good luck.
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There are several home health agencies that could possibly help you. If I knew what state I would be to help you more specifically. I work for an agency that is bonded and covers alot of the US . Look up on line if you can Home instead Senior care in your area and you should be able to find out lots of info and probably a helper . God bless 🙏🏻
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Daffy21
I was in your situation a month ago! I had cataract surgery in one eye & will need to have the other one done as well. I mentioned to the staff at my doctors office......that I had no one to take me to the Surgery Center, they arranged for a staff member to pick me up & one took me home after the procedure! You can always call a taxi (which I already did, it was only $3.00). I live very close to the Surgicare Center!
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Here we have a group called 'Seniors for Seniors' there is a wide variety of undertakings that they will do - some will do this sort of job - my nieghbour does it & he goes to fix small things like putting up a shelf - it is generally the younger seniors [newly retired] who are helping the older ones but it can be anyone -

When a friend had a fall she needed someone & we were able to arrange for a lady to come after dinner, help her to bed, help her up & make a small breakfast through them - there must be similar services all over the place
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Sign up an at-home caregiving service. This is an excellent way to test them out. A short finite job. If things go well, then you know who to call the next time when your needs might be greater.
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Being driven to and from are normal.
I never heard of someone having to spend the night. I would question that.
Is there any relative that could spend the night with you? It's only so if you fell, someone could help you - at least that is what I am figuring.

But Cataract Surgery has changed so much, you'll be seeing right after the surgery.
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The reason they want someone with you overnight is because of the anesthesia issues related to iv sedation that they use during surgery. Even in my 50's I have to have my husband drive me to and from my colonoscopies because there is a post surgery amnesia and people aren't capable of performing important functions which they will remember-no legal documents signing, etc. The older we are the longer the anesthesia takes to clear our systems but it's generally from about 12-24 hours. There can be real vulnerability and unwise decisions made because of sleepiness and forgetfulness associated.

Older people are notoriously taken advantage of by scammers and such, even taxi drivers and those wanting to fleece the unsuspecting. It's physical, legal and financial safety they are trying to protect you from. Hoping the surgery goes well like it did for my mom.
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I had an outpatient surgery a few years ago and arranged for a taxi service to take me both ways. I explained the situation, they said that they give these sorts of rides often and sent a discreet female driver. The doctor's office said to have someone with me the first night but I didn't want that and was fine alone. They advise this in case you you have any adverse effects and for their own legal protection. It doesn't mean you're really going to need overnight care.
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While I understand they want to make sure the patient is ok, in our uncaring, indifferent society this is becoming more and more of a concern. I have problems with my eyes, and without my husband I would be concerned, "friends" only want to be around for fun activities, neighbors unfriendly. I would let this doctor's office know if they want all these things, they should suggest a senior service or volunteers to do this. I am considering volunteering too for something like this, as I know what a Godsend someone to just be there and help for a bit would be if only I knew where to go. Our medical care needs to understand that, unfortunately, this isn't 1960, and not everyone has caring family, neighbors, or friends to help. I would also call the Area Agency on Ageing to see what they would suggest. After my cataract surgery my husband stuck around for awhile and then had to go to work and I took a long nap. The person may not even have to stay the whole night if all seems ok.
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More home care service can do this for you. (Once you get home and you feel comfortable, you can send them home for the evening...)
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When you have any type of outpatient surgery, you are given sedation; so that is why you cannot drive home. And you cannot really call a dial a ride service; the hospital wants to know that you have a "responsible party" not just provide the ride, but check in on you to make sure you don't have any complications. You don't need a senior care specialist; you can contract with any local home nursing agency; and they can provide a nurses aide to drive you home, and stay with you overnight. Person does not have to be an RN, a neighbor or family member could do it; so you don't need skilled care.
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I'm considering volunteering for situations such as this. Not sure who to call, but I think there are a couple of senior centers and inner-city community centers in the major metro area I'm nearest to.
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Sue, thanks for sharing that information. I honestly never thought of it.
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GA,
I understand not wanting someone in the house but, I think the reason the docs want someone with you is that, if you have a cataract in one eye, it's likely that you have one in the other eye too.
It's hard enough to see through 2 "foggy" eyes but its even worse to see at night with one eye bandaged. It's a risk of a fall ready to happen, especially if the person is already unsteady and/or uses a cane or walker.

Another one of those,"It's for your own good." situations.
Just my 2 pesos.
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I recently had to have a procedure and needed companion for the wife while I was not available. I scheduled a companion for twelve hours at $18.00/hr plus mileage.. The companion drove us to the hospital and the second one drove us home. They took care of the wife and the nurses took care of me.
Had to go this route because of the lack of friends and the wife not allowed to drive.
Around here the docs will not do the procedure unless there is someone present the whole time. No taxis, no public transportation.
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My time will be just around the corner for cataract surgery. If I was alone, I would probably call the caregiving Agency that I had used for my Dad to help me, as I could budget such cost. Plus the Agency was licensed, insured, and bonded. But the cost is expensive.

I probably would schedule the schedule the surgery around the availability of the two caregivers that Dad used. Just having someone in the house after such a procedure can give one a sense of safety.
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I faced the same situation when my opthalmologist advised I needed cataract surgery in both eyes. So I did some research.

The local public transit authority has a paratransit, or "small bus" service that would take me to and from the surgical center if it was w/I ten miles of the pickup point (my house). The cost then was $1.00. Can't beat that!

However, I didn't need or want anyone to stay with me - I would still have had the existing vision in the other eye. An overnight helper changes the dynamics.

If you live in an area where you can trust people (I don't), you could contact your local senior center and see if there are any helpers who could either provide transportation or overnight assistance at home. I don't think that there is any screening involved with volunteers through senior centers, so you could be taking a chance with someone you don't know.

As to transit only, there are also various services, such as the "ambulettes", which could take you to the surgical center and back, but you'd still be facing the issue of overnight care. The ambulettes and similar services used to run about $40 one way.

I recently found a veteran's ambulette service, but the mileage was over $3/per mile, which I thought was exorbitant. And there's also a flat rate for the trip, which was also high.

Some counties have lists of/links to senior services; trying that is another option.

If you have to hire one of the private duty companies, you'd probably have to sign a contract, and would likely get someone of their choice. I just went through that; even though I hired an agency with a good reputation, two out of the three people provided didn't meet basic standards. One was so bad I let her go early just to get her out of the house.

Also, as Barb suggested, ask your opthalomologist who's performing the surgery; I'm sure they've encountered this before. Usually there's a person who"boards" (schedules) surgery who makes these kinds of arrangements for patients.

Do you have any friends or relatives who could stay with you?
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Can you disclose your town.
Then we can see what services are in that neighborhood.
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If you don't have a friend or neighbor who can do this, I'd call the local Area Agency on Aging and ask if they have a suggestion. Did you ask at the doctors office staff for suggestions? They must deal with this all the time.

Another idea is, if there is a university nearby with a school of nursing, you might be able to hire a couple of RNs in training to help, they could work in shifts so as not to miss class time.

Isolation isn't good for us as we age. Do you belong to a Senior Center? Look into that. They can be a good source of help for just this kind of situation.
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