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I’m 60 years old. I have a 78 year old brother who is now in an AL facility. I am getting numerous messages that he needs transportation to go to doctor’s appointments. I’m still working and can’t take time off to drive him. Plus the AL facility and his doctors are more than 45 minutes from my home. How can this be arranged?

You may be able to contact the facility. Based on the level of care, assistance with ambulating, or mobility, contact or type of appointment. A social worker or sometimes a caseworker or nurse or organization may provide assistance with this type of service. You can check with the administrator at the assisted living facility to find appropriate assistance and their policies, find out if they have a referral program or people and physicians on site, or how to find someone who may provide, pay, or organize the appointment transportation.
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Reply to Senior8
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Many AL facilities do provide transportation to doctor's offices and other appointments. It may have to be arranged in advance.
Some areas have public transportation that can be arranged in advance and the fees are nominal.
Where I live there is a Volunteer Network that will also provide transportation again it has to be arranged in advance.
If your brother needs extra help there are Medical Transport companies that can be called. (it may be covered by insurance so you could check that)
And another option....Some facilities have doctors that will come to the facility eliminating the need to travel to the doctor.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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Ask the assisted living facility what transportation is available for your brother. It appears he is able to make decisions for himself and he will have to pay out of his own money.
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Reply to Patathome01
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Here in San Antonio our Bus system has $2 one way transportation for handicapped, including wheelchairs. I got my husband signed up
and I make reservations online or direct phone call. I can accompany him. They will
pick up those who go to adult daycare, Dr appointments, social events, whatever as long as they qualify with application and Dr sign off.
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Reply to Credulous
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Things are changing for your brother and if there is no cognitive decline then he has to handle his problems himself. My husband is 79 and capable of getting himself an appt. He has a hearing problem so he would have one of our girls help him or go to the office.

Do you have POA for your brother? If he has Dementia, you may want to consider a nice LTC facility. They usually have a doctor or doctors associated with them. They have dentists and eye doctors who come into the facility. Even podiatrists for toenail cutting. If his money runs out, he will have an easier time switching to Medicaid.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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Your brother needs to speak with the AL himself about what transportation they provide to doctors appointments. He should sign up with the doctor who comes into the AL instead of running himself ragged going to doctors 45 minutes away. That's one of the benefits of AL.....being able to see a doctor in the privacy and comfort of your own apartment! My mother loved that and so did I.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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Talk to the AL and ask if they supply transportation. If not, call his County Office of Aging and see if they have Senior bussing. If he is on Medicaid, they supply transportation. Unless he has cognitive decline, I see no reason why he can't go to a Dr appt alone. My husband is 79 and can go alone. I go because he is profoundly deaf.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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Why do you have to figure out your brother's transportation and escort to his doctor's appointments? Are you his POA and he can't do anything for himself? If such is the case, a private companion can be hired to drive him, accompany him, and bring him back to the AL. The doctor's appointments would have to be scheduled during that person's working hours though. Not impossible. I had lots of care clients I used to take to doctors' appointments. Their offices had no choice but to make the appointments during my work time or they wouldn't be seeing their patient. Your brother needs a paid companion.
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Reply to BurntCaregiver
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Most assisted living facilities have their own vans that will transport their folks to their doctors appointments, but do need someone(family member or not)to meet them there.
So if you can't get off of work you may have to hire someone with your brothers money to meet him at his doctors appointments.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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