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Hello all, I work as a transporter for folks with non emergency medical transportation needs. Most of my time on the job finds me piloting a wheelchair van, as many of my clients are wheelchair bound. They vary in age from the very young, to the very old. Many of my older clients are nursing home residents. Their disabilities run the gamut. Most are diabetic and many have lost limbs. Some are more healthy, but need to attend dialysis treatments 3 times weekly. As you might imagine, dementia is something I deal with almost daily. After losing both of my parents in the last 5 years, I have become attuned, if you will, to the challenges of dementia, and the challenges of dealing with clients who just can't communicate as well as they, and I, would like. Most of my dementia challenged clients are sent out from the nursing homes without escorts. This puts the onus on me, and all those other drivers out there, to try to cope. We are not (necessarily) medics, CNA's or nurses. We are not trained in the unique skills of dealing with those who don't, won't or can't communicate their needs and fears to us. We are not trained in the techniques of lifting older, frail clients Many nursing home staff members effectively say to us, "here's your old folk. Take him/her to the appointment and bring him/her back. Later." Now not all nursing homes are this removed from the process. Many are very good. But I"m sure that many of you know how terrible nursing homes can be. Couple the nursing home's detachment with our lack of professional training and you have a tenuous situation at best. If I have an on-board emergency other than a heart attack or a minor first aid related injury for which we ARE trained, my best bet is to pull over, do what I can and call 911. I've had to do this once. I guess my point here, is that any client who requires possible special handling, be it physical or mental, should not be sent out alone. Why the nursing homes do this is a mystery to me. Actually, it's not. The answer is monetary. Minimal staffing and cost cutting are the reasons. They're bad reasons, considering that we are carrying such precious cargo. Still, we carry on. We go into work every day and hope that today isn't the day that something terrible will happen. We learn to love our clients and we do our best for them. So, if you're a caregiver and have to deal with us van drivers, I hope you'll look on us with a different attitude the next time you see us. We try to be professional and caring, but often we need your help more than you realize. When you leave that client in our care, remember that we don't have all sorts of fancy resuscitation equipment aboard. We also are not privy to our client's living will preferences. We assume, by default, that you are sending with us, a client who can be safely transported by non CMT drivers. Give us a hug or a cookie, will you?! Thanks, FriPilot (Jon) My next rant will be on ADA compliancy, or the lack thereof. I get mad just thinking about it

 I WANT TO SAY WE USED A SERVICE FOR MY MOTHER AND SHE WAS TREATED WITH GREAT RESPECT ! THEY WOULD ALWAYS GREET HER WITH A SMILE AND KIND GREETING ! I KNEW DURING THE TRANSPORT THAT MY MOTHER WAS IN SAFE HANDS . I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ! I KNOW THE EDERLY CAN BE A HAND FULL AT TIMES !  WE WOULD TEASE MOM AD TELL HER TO BEHAVE AND NO FLIRTING WITH THE DRIVER !  HA HA ........ONCE AGAIN NO EASY JOB .....THANK YOU !!!!  RAINEY XO  

 Hi Rainey, and thanks a lot!

 Most all of my client's family members are very helpfull and appreciative of our service. They recognize that we get to know our clients well and take the best care of them we can. 

 I'm very happy that you and your Mom had a positive experience with your driver(s). I can guarantee you, that you probably made his or her day too!

 

FriPilot

 

 When my grandmother first became ill she used medial transport to get to her appointments and she loved it!  I think my mom did, in fact, make the driver some cookies. 

One of my former foster kids worked for a while as a CNA.  She often talked about patients with dementia needing bed alarms to prevent them from getting out of bed alone and possibly injuring themselves.  Are there any such safety precautions in transport vehicles?  If not I think there's potential for serious liability issues.

 Devorella, I see those alarms connected to many of my client's chairs. It sort of concerns me. Most all of them use seat belts on the chairs, but we seatbelt every single passenger, regardless of whether or not they have thier own belt. If nothing else, they are NOT going to leave that chair.

 You understand my remarks about the need for attendents on some trips.

 

FriPilot

 

Dear Jon..........after reading your very caring post.....I'd be thrilled to have someone such as yourself........pick up any one of my loved ones. It's unusual these days......to hear of the kind of kindness and concern you display in your post about the people you serve. Having worked in a Nursing Home ........I know from personal experience that older patients suffering from dementia.........can be a handful...........requiring knidness and patience. It sounds like you have both these qualities.......plus a genuine caring that is wonderful to hear about........feel......from your care and concern. So.........keep up the good work Jon..........your " transpots ".........are blessed to have you...........peace and love Norma

 Thank you very much, Norma. I really appreciate your thoughts.

 This has certainly become a labor of love. It sure isn't because they

pay us extraordinaraly well.

 I've found that a greeting, a big smile, sharing a few words, even when I'm

not sure that they've been "heard",  and a touch on the shoulder, work wonders. 

I guess I don't have to tell you these things, given your nursing home experience.

 Interestingly, lately my boss has been forced by staff cutbacks and rising fuel costs,

to get in one of the vans and actually interact with our clients more than he normally

would. I think it's been a re-awakening for him.  Now it's HIM who comes into the

office saying "dang, that guy IS a pain!"  or "Geez, that doctor's office IS nearly

impossible to get into". Or my favorite, when he comes in and says "Wow Mrs.

So And So really IS a sweet old girl!". I think he's begun to re-realize why he's in the

business that he is, other than it making money for us.

My next project is to get our office manager/dispatcher out in the van with me 

for a day. She has worked in nursing homes too, and realizes those challenges. She

also hears my frustration on the radio in the afternoons when I have 4 or 5 or 6 

clients lined up waiting to be taken home. She knows that when I tell her "I'll put

him/her on my list" that I'm getting real backed up. I'd like to take her along one

day just to see what our days are like. I think it would be very enlightening!

Anyway, thanks again. Your remarks, and those of the others, have made me smile

this morning!

 

Jon

FriPilot:

 Devorella, I see those alarms connected to many of my client's chairs. It sort of concerns me. Most all of them use seat belts on the chairs, but we seatbelt every single passenger, regardless of whether or not they have thier own belt. If nothing else, they are NOT going to leave that chair.

 You understand my remarks about the need for attendents on some trips.

 

FriPilot

 

I am glad to hear at least there is less likelihood of injury!  It would be very nice if necessary services would recieve the funding they deserved, but I think we all know how that goes.    Keep fighting the good fight!