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I know plenty of people and meet with friends at least once a week - the issue as I said is availability during daytime. Last three times a friend took off work to drive me.
I'm getting damned sick and tired of the judgementalism in this thread. I was looking for practical suggestions, not people's opinions on my being a "recluse". I worked until early October, and have work friends as well as church friends. As I said, they WORK during the day. At this point, I'm not likely to ask for anything from the "community" on C-D again.
Thanks to those who gave positive and useful advice in this thread. I don't need this kind of aggravation.
Don't worry about them. There's a pattern. They are the same people who jump on a thread about being ALONE for Christmas and hijack the thread whining and bellyaching because their husband is out of town until Christmas Eve day, or their kids live 5 states away, or whatever. It's always the same Me, Me, Me people. Ignore them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nobodysbusiness
Rude and judgmental.
Some people are more sensitive to other people's time than others. Some don't want to "bother" others with their needs.
I did ask a friend to drive me to a procedure once and she cancelled that morning! She is no longer a friend, and if I should ever need a ride again, I will make some kind of business arrangement with paratransit or whatever.
Yeah, that's what happened to me when I needed a ride home. Neighbor, whom I've transported at least 10 times, couldn't pick me up even though she said less than 24 hours earlier that she would. I've been self-sufficient all my life and it's very hard for me to ask for help. If there's a next time, and at my age, there will be, I'll just pay a pro if I can find one.
Following surgery or medical procedures involving anaesthesia, clinics and doctor's/dentist's offices want you to have someone you know drive you home and stay with you. But this isn't practical in all cases for me, since I have no relatives in the area and the friends I have are working during the day (I'm the only one retired); I belong to a church but it's 40 miles from here (and I'm not changing churches just to get rides).
I've thought of getting an Uber or Lyft ride to and from the surgery or office, but that doesn't fill the "requirement" that it's someone you know who can stay with you after the procedure. There is a city service offering rides for older adults locally, but it's clear they don't want to give you a ride if anaesthesia involved (presumably for legal reasons).
How have others handled this situation?
You will not be clear headed enough to drive, therefore the Dr's office will not release you unless you have a ride.
So in your case, no proceedure or Uber. Your call!!
Status:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vasily
Yes - but procedures involving anaesthesia are excluded, probably for legal reasons.
I understand that - but maybe someone at the Senior Services could recommend a service or free transportation through a group where someone would stay during the procedure and make sure you get home. I'm sure there are plenty of seniors in the same situation as yourself!
Kaiser has all of its specialist centers scattered all over northern VA, Dc Metro area. I was almost ready to drop the insurer for that reason when I had to be driven to a appt over 25 miles away.
My sister took me but neither she or I should be driving in DC rush hour traffic. Bad enough when you are well.
I think it would almost be cheaper to get a hotel overnight then hire someone. Maybe those guys that stand in line for you at those fancy restaurants would take a gig-fake out the receptionist and say they are your cousin.
Don't worry about them. There's a pattern. They are the same people who jump on a thread about being ALONE for Christmas and hijack the thread whining and bellyaching because their husband is out of town until Christmas Eve day, or their kids live 5 states away, or whatever. It's always the same Me, Me, Me people. Ignore them.
.
Most of the responses have been helpful and seemed to "get" what I was asking, but I reacted badly to that one because of the recluse comments and a few other negative posts I saw before it when scanning the responses. I'm going to be going back through the thread to read the helpful ones - and there are plenty of those. Thanks!
You will not be clear headed enough to drive, therefore the Dr's office will not release you unless you have a ride.
It's worse than that in many cases. I live within easy walking distance of the two endoscopy centers I can use for my every-3-year colonoscopy, but they still insist that someone has to meet me to escort me home. (I suppose I should count my blessings that they don't insist on having that person stay throughout the entire procedure!)
This sort of inflexibility is not in the best interest of patients and creates a real barrier to accessing necessary care for many people.
It's worse than that in many cases. I live within easy walking distance of the two endoscopy centers I can use for my every-3-year colonoscopy, but they still insist that someone has to meet me to escort me home. (I suppose I should count my blessings that they don't insist on having that person stay throughout the entire procedure!)
This sort of inflexibility is not in the best interest of patients and creates a real barrier to accessing necessary care for many people.
Same here. Though I was within walking distance of my home (~0.5 miles), they would not let me walk home --regardless of how long I sat around after the procedure (providing sufficient time for the anesthesia to wear off). So I had to call my wife at work, get her to take off from work, to come pick me up after the procedure.
I have worked in medicine for twenty years as a physician assistant, and I find this policy frustrating, esp. if you are a single adult and have no family nor friends around where you live (which will be my situation in 2018 when I move out of state and need my next follow-up colonoscopy).
It's worse than that in many cases. I live within easy walking distance of the two endoscopy centers I can use for my every-3-year colonoscopy, but they still insist that someone has to meet me to escort me home. (I suppose I should count my blessings that they don't insist on having that person stay throughout the entire procedure!)
This sort of inflexibility is not in the best interest of patients and creates a real barrier to accessing necessary care for many people.
Has to do w/ lawsuits against your provider. If you cross the street or step out into the road while semi-groggy, get hit, they fear your estate will hire a lawyer for damages.
Following surgery or medical procedures involving anaesthesia, clinics and doctor's/dentist's offices want you to have someone you know drive you home and stay with you. But this isn't practical in all cases for me, since I have no relatives in the area and the friends I have are working during the day (I'm the only one retired); I belong to a church but it's 40 miles from here (and I'm not changing churches just to get rides).
I've thought of getting an Uber or Lyft ride to and from the surgery or office, but that doesn't fill the "requirement" that it's someone you know who can stay with you after the procedure. There is a city service offering rides for older adults locally, but it's clear they don't want to give you a ride if anaesthesia involved (presumably for legal reasons).
How have others handled this situation?
They have companion website in every city. It may be out of your budget. Depends on what city you are in. The companies that have care takers for hire also have just companions to help out and they are trained and cost less than actual caretakers due to just being companions and ride givers. Or there is always craigslist. You can request a teen that will allow you to speak w his or her parents. They could be cheaper than the actual companion company. Some insurance may pay for this.
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