My husband has accepted a position with a new employer approximately 300 miles from where we now live. My plan is to contract with a non-emergency medical transport service to get Mom (87, legally blind, mostly deaf and disabled) out there when we move - I know it would be much more comfortable for her, and the drive will be much less stressful for me, not having to worry about bathroom emergencies, boredom, etc. I'll have two cats in the car as it is, so I think this would be the best approach.
I know this service isn't cheap, and it's not covered by Medicare - I'm just interested in hearing of anyone else's experiences with this type of service. Any input will be greatly appreciated!
The one thing I would be concerned with is if Medicaid will be needed, she would need to establish residency in the new state.
That link will give you a good idea on what people's experiences were like. Good luck!
I would suggest you clearly understand what the services employees will and will not do. What happens if there is a delay on the road or your Mom has a medical emergency, what about restroom or meal stops, can a family member or friend ride along? Discuss it with the owner and get the terms in writing.
Remember that the employees may not have medical training and may be legally constrained from doing certain things.
I had experience using these for my Dad, to get him to and from medical appointments. The drivers said they could go any distance, if prearranged. The drivers are all certified EMTs or RNs.
For Moms long trip, we figured it would require stops every two hours to move around, to prevent blood clots or UTIs. Also a family member would accompany. And an overnight stay would probably have been required. So the cost would have been high.
in the end, we elected to rent a van and have family members, one of whom is also an MD, accompany her
still costly but much less so b
FYI ... they used a condom catheter during transport so you may want to check about something similar for your mom
2 men accompanied dad & were joking with him by time he arrived so he had a very pleasant ride - dad came with a big smile - the trip was 2 hrs 45 min with no stops at all - I would do it again if needed