I need to coordinate transportation to move my Mom from an AL in Illinois to an AL in Kentucky - over 300 miles. I've reached out for quotes from medical transport companies and so far, seeing rates of $5k+. Yikes.
I'm wondering if there is a service where a licensed caregiver accompanies patients during long-distance travel in a private vehicle. We have access to a van with wheelchair accessibility but need a professional caregiver to make the 5-hour trip with us. I have Googled but not coming up with anything. Thanks for any guidance!
Remember, you have to pay them portal to portal or you will never find anyone. The return trip will need to be financed by mom as well.
https://www.seniortravelcompanionservices.com/about
https://www.firstlighthomecare.com/home-care-services/specialty-care/travel-companion/
https://www.travelingaide.com/www.travelingaide.com/skilled-services
Clearly you know the needs better than I do, but I’d be tempted to wing it. Out of your 6 siblings, is there one who could spend a similar time with mother, see what ‘needs’ come up, and practice doing what is necessary? In any event, you will need an early start (with prep the night before), and clear arrival arrangements at the destination. It will be a long day. You should also think about how the carer can safely move around in the van, in order to do what needs to be done.
I’d suggest doing a dummy run, to check out facilities along the way – including options if there is an emergency. You really need to know where you can stop, not to be exploring unknown service stations. If you have access to the van, I’d do the dummy run with a helper in the bed and also acting what the carer needs to do. If you can’t do that, check the road surface as carefully as you can. Flat on a bed in a van, you find many many more bounces than are apparent in a car (and I’ve done this all myself when my back is crook, for 3 days and 1500 kms). A dummy run may seem like a lot of unnecessary work, but it's a lot cheaper than $5K, and a very very sensible thing to do.
To summarise, I think that knowing what you are doing (and practising first) is more important than the license of the caregiver. If you do find the carer you are looking for (and check their manouverability in a moving van as well as the license), you might still consider doing the dummy run first. I would, if it was my mother.
Good luck to all involved!
My cousin is a traveling nurse and does this in her off hours as a service so looking to nurses would be a good idea.
Does insurance transfer? Do you have a PCP lined up and if not, it might take e several months for first appointment.
In your other post you say she has an open wound. Do you have a specialist lined up including wound dressings? Sitting on her butt for several hours is not good.
She has mobility issues so how will she be toileted at a rest stop. Does her mobility include more than 1 person lift? If you answer yes to the last 2 questions then maybe she needs to be transported by plane on a stretcher.
https://www.agingcare.com/lp/bp-homecare?campaignid=20108844850&adgroupid=147895561846&keyword=caretaker%20for%20hire&affiliateid=C2B76E5B-BB2D-4F62-B5F2-60F00A57E756&opt=true&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2eKtBhDcARIsAEGTG41FSBj2yAoGHAuk6vVO2kGDlvA2cpYWI620bNvcZZgdAuNBtmc5sM4aAqm4EALw_wcB
Enter licensed home caregivers into Google you should be able to find a number of websites that let you enter your ZIP code and find agencies in your area. Many agencies have caregivers who will be able to do this. As previously mentioned, it may be a bit of a problem crossing state lines and because this is a long round trip but you can only find out by calling.
Please do pay attention to all of the concerns others have raised about her condition and be truthful with the agency. I understand that money is a concern and I would baulk at $5,000 but on the other hand I would want to make sure the caregiver is fully licensed and insured.