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I'm not being snotty but I'd be considering moving. Not so much because of this specific, very occasional transportation issue. Living in a place with so few friends and, everdently, so few options would be very depressing to me. No way to live out my final years.
I hope that by moving into an independent living facility, I won't run into this problem.
I have used Uber several times for minor surgical procedures in the last 3 years, but I did have someone at home to "take care of me", which is another issue.
Is there a hotel right night to the hospital? If so, is there a shuttle to/from or would they allow you to walk back to the hotel after the procedure?
That may not work at all, but I would have been fine to do that after my colonoscopy. I know that they want someone there with you to discuss the results and follow up instructions but I don't know if that's mandatory.
"The Discreet Medical Chaperone is a bonded and fully insured medical escort and postsurgical assistance service providing assistance to patients undergoing ambulatory procedures, medical treatments, or physicians’ appointments.
By New York State law, patients who have had anesthesia cannot leave a medical facility without an escort. Friends or relatives may not be available. Other patients value their privacy and prefer not to disclose their medical information to family and friends. The Discreet Medical Chaperone will arrange for patients to be accompanied, with great care, to their home or hotel following medical procedures, and ensure that they have what they need for a safe and comfortable recovery."
"While there’s no one simple solution to this medical escort problem, there are wide variety of local service providers, nonprofits and home-care companies that may be able to assist you. But what’s available to you will depend on where you live.
A good first step in making medical escort arrangements is to talk to your health care provider that’s doing the procedure to find out if their clinic offers transportation services or if they can refer you to a local medical escort service or person who can help you. If not, see if you can remain in the clinic for an extended period of time, until the drugs wear off, so you can safely drive yourself home or hail an Uber, Lyft or taxi to take you.
• Area Agency on Aging (AAA). Your local AAA is one of your best resources for locating transportation services and should be able to refer you to medical escorts available in your community. To find your AAA call the Eldercare Locater (800) 677-1116 or visit Eldercare.acl.gov.
• Local nonprofit groups. The National Volunteer Caregiving Network (NVCNetwork.org) connects about 700 community organizations nationwide, most of which provide door-through-door transportation without charge.
• Shepherd’s Centers of America. There are 55 affiliates in 17 states that provide support services for older adults — see www.shepherdcenters.org. Most offer escorts to and from medical appointments without charge.
• Village to Village Network. There are around 250 local village networks across the country (see https://vtvnetwork.org/) that often help with medical escorts, though there’s an annual fee — usually subsidized for lower-income seniors – to join a village.
• Home-care companies. You may also be able to hire a medical escort through a home-care agency, or you can find someone on your own through websites like Care.com or CareLinx.com. Note that Medicare doesn’t cover medical escorts, but in many states Medicaid does. If you choose this option, be sure you give plenty of notice before your appointment.
A friend. I had a friend who was also a taxi driver take me to my colonoscopy. It was all well and good until I gave the hospital his card to call when I was ready to go home. They freaked out and told me in no uncertain terms that was forbidden. If I had said nothing and just given them his number I would have been fine. At that point I was getting extremely anxious since I didn't want to go through that awful prep again. I finally called an employee who was recovering from cancer surgery and he was able to come and get me.
I don't bother. I think we're tested and screened to death these days, and I wouldn't pursue treatment, anyway. If you don't even have anyone to ask to give you a ride to a medical procedure, why would you want to extend your life to the point where you'd really need care?
I had the same thought, reading the OP. I don't know the OP's age, but since this is in the retirement forum I'm wondering why even bother with these? Once you're 70+ all bets are off anyway. I'd rather age gracefully and naturally without these stressful and costly "procedures" that are bankrolling the opulent lifestyles of medical and insurance professionals.
I don't bother. I think we're tested and screened to death these days, and I wouldn't pursue treatment, anyway. If you don't even have anyone to ask to give you a ride to a medical procedure, why would you want to extend your life to the point where you'd really need care?
Let's hope that you will never need to find a ride for a medical diagnostic proceedure and someone gives you this response.
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