Options to get a 94 year old to doctor's appointments

[Anonymous]

My sibling used to volunteer for an organization, she drove seniors to medical and other appointments. This was a long time ago. Couldn't tell you names, but county senior centers can probably help you locate services like this if they're still around.

[Anonymous]

My parents live in a retirement community - they offer free transportation to doctor's appts Tu-Th within a certain mile radius.
Might be time for the parent to consider leaving home if they can't drive themselves around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If all the adults around your parent are in inflexible full time jobs, then your parent needs to have an aide who can get her to appointments, ask the questions and jot down some notes. Either with an agency or found by word of mouth or something.

I have a friend who is currently driving from DC to NYC where her MIL lives (not even her parent!), to take her to medical appointments and such. It's crazy, and I hope they find a more long-term solution.

Being knowledgeable/competent enough to know the right questions to ask and jot down notes goes above and beyond what a lot of more general aides do. It would definitely needs to be an aide/caregiver that works for your mom consistently and regularly (like scheduled for multiple hours, several days a week) and not just a random employee that an agency sends for sporadic appointments.

[Anonymous]

If you are in FFX, https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/familyservices/older-adults/transportation-for-older-adults . Look at the bottom of the page for Volunteer Rides to Medical Appointments

Pretty much every community has something like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The volunteer organizations are to help the underprivileged and those in a bind now and then. You need a real solution which is either to hire an aide to drive and attend and you will likely need to hire that aide a certain number of hours so might as well have her help with grocery shopping and other stuff or look into care facilities.

Actually, many of the volunteer organizations are for exactly this purpose: to support aging -in-place plans, so that small issues such as needing an occasional ride, don’t become serious impediments leading to relocating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The volunteer organizations are to help the underprivileged and those in a bind now and then. You need a real solution which is either to hire an aide to drive and attend and you will likely need to hire that aide a certain number of hours so might as well have her help with grocery shopping and other stuff or look into care facilities.

Actually, many of the volunteer organizations are for exactly this purpose: to support aging -in-place plans, so that small issues such as needing an occasional ride, don’t become serious impediments leading to relocating.

exactly. Moreover, they are frequently staffed by senior citizens who do only to be able to help other seniors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The volunteer organizations are to help the underprivileged and those in a bind now and then. You need a real solution which is either to hire an aide to drive and attend and you will likely need to hire that aide a certain number of hours so might as well have her help with grocery shopping and other stuff or look into care facilities.

OP indicated that her mother qualified for Medicaid home health - that means her mother is underprivileged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The volunteer organizations are to help the underprivileged and those in a bind now and then. You need a real solution which is either to hire an aide to drive and attend and you will likely need to hire that aide a certain number of hours so might as well have her help with grocery shopping and other stuff or look into care facilities.

OP indicated that her mother qualified for Medicaid home health - that means her mother is underprivileged.

No it doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The volunteer organizations are to help the underprivileged and those in a bind now and then. You need a real solution which is either to hire an aide to drive and attend and you will likely need to hire that aide a certain number of hours so might as well have her help with grocery shopping and other stuff or look into care facilities.

OP indicated that her mother qualified for Medicaid home health - that means her mother is underprivileged.

No it doesn't.

To qualify for medicaid (regular, not long term care) you have to have basically no savings and under $1200 or so a month in income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The volunteer organizations are to help the underprivileged and those in a bind now and then. You need a real solution which is either to hire an aide to drive and attend and you will likely need to hire that aide a certain number of hours so might as well have her help with grocery shopping and other stuff or look into care facilities.

OP indicated that her mother qualified for Medicaid home health - that means her mother is underprivileged.

Where did OP indicate this?

[Anonymous]

Care management.
Google Life care management VA MD DC if you are in this area and some good options should come up.
It’s not covered by insurance but these companies will do one-off services like taking your mom to appointments for an hour or two here or there as needed. I think it’s about $150-175/hour.
Or you can hire an in-home aide through a care company for much less but they usually have daily minimums of about 4-5 hrs per day.