Multigenerational living is on the increase in the United States. According to the Pew Research Center, 14% of older adults who live in someone else's household are the parent of the person with whom they live, up from 7% just a generation ago. Moving can be stressful under any circumstances, but using a medical transport service to move elderly family members closer to home can make the experience better for everyone involved.
Reasons to Use a Medical Transport Service for Moving Elderly Family Members
If you plan to move an elderly family member to become their caregiver, prepare for a stressful experience. In fact, moving consistently ranks as one of the most stressful life events.
Even if your family member is looking forward to moving, they will likely feel mixed emotions. They may be leaving lifelong friends and familiar surroundings, downsizing their belongings, and saying goodbye to the home where they raised a family. They may even feel worried about a loss of independence and a change in family dynamics that can come with moving in with an adult child.
For some families, medical issues make moving elderly family members even more complicated and stressful. Here are three examples of how a medical transport service can help make moving easier.
Assistance for family members with medical issues. Traveling can be uncomfortable for people who suffer from medical issues such as chronic pain or arthritis; it can also be challenging for people who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) or who are at higher risk for blood clots. A medical transport service, such as SentinelMED can help determine the safest and most comfortable mode of travel for older adults. SentinelMED also can arrange ground transport or travel by commercial airline for older adults and family members.
When needed, SentinelMED can arrange for an escort to travel with older adults and their families. The SentinelMED team includes medical escorts, who are registered nurses or doctors, and non-medical escorts, who are paramedics or EMTs.
Our escorts are trained or experienced in emergency and critical care medicine. They are also skilled problem solvers who know how to handle unexpected medical needs during transport.
Help with mobility issues. Family members who use a wheelchair, scooter, or walker may need a specially equipped vehicle for transport or may feel more secure in one. If a family member is confined to a bed, a medical transport service may be needed to ensure comfort and safety.
The physicians at SentinelMED can review medical records, talk with health care providers, and meet with family members to determine the best transportation options for elderly family members. They can also arrange for an escort to accompany older adults during travel and provide necessary medical care, including administering supplemental oxygen.
Care for cognitive issues. Moving an older adult who has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia to a new home can be traumatic for everyone involved. Depending on a family’s needs, a medically equipped van or travel by commercial airline with a non-medical escort may be a more safe and secure way to travel than by car. An escort who is experienced in caring for patients with cognitive issues can provide assistance during travel, including at airports.
In each of these situations, a medical transport service can make travel safer and more comfortable for older adults and their family members who will be caring for them.
Medical Transport Services Offered by SentinelMED
The SentinelMED team helps individuals and their family members make important decisions about medical transportation of elderly adults. SentinelMED provides domestic and international medical transport, as well as medical repatriation services for travelers. SentinelMED often arranges for medical escorts to accompany travelers and help them navigate the stress and uncertainty associated with long-distance travel.
The SentinelMED team works closely with hospital case managers to arrange door-to-door transportation from a discharging medical facility to a receiving facility or family member. This level of support ensures that travelers are well cared for throughout the duration of their journey.
SentinelMED understands the complexity of delivering exceptional care to patients who need assistance during travel. Please contact us to learn more about the services that SentinelMED offers or its staff.
