My grandmother is currently on life support with a ventilator. She is stable but they are trying to place her in a nursing home many miles away from me and I won’t be able to visit her or make sure she is getting the care she needs to have a longer life. Please help anyone. I setup a gofund me account but no one has been donating I need help on which medical transport that I can afford.
When my LO was in an AL/NH environment, skin checks were done, escoriation found by Aides, reported to RN & treated daily. Healed up well while there.
In the home environment, while possibly seen by an in-home Aide, skin issues had NOT been reported to family nor treated (possibly due to LO's denial/refusal).
In the AL/NH they were more thorough, more frequent skin checks, more frequent toileting/pad changes plus daily showering.
I agree with Barb - I would also wait until a safe car ride (or plane trip) would be possible.
Until then, speak to the Nurse Manager of the hospital ward or NH unit for updates. Also to have the phone brought to your Grandmother so you can speak to her. I realise she cannot speak to you, but she may be able to hear you. Worth a go?
In your situation, I would leave gma in Queens until you can relocate her yourself once she's able to travel by car.
Your profile says grandma is in NYC in a hospital. Which hospital?
How did she come to be on a ventilator? Does she have COVID?
A friend of mine (she had cancer, but was getting treatment) contracted COVID and went downhill very rapidly. She was put on a ventilator and died subsequently.
Does grandma have any family or friends in NYC you are in contact with?
Does gma have any underlying medical conditions?
What is her medical team telling you about her prognosis?
Moving her from NYC to Buffalo seems short-sighted and cruel. Can you visit her where she is?
I may have jumped way too fast to a very wrong conclusion..
Or maybe the hospital needs to move to an NH bed & what is currently AVAILABLE is unfortunately far away?
A patient in this critical a condition (on life support) should not be moved too soon.
Get a second opinion and support to keep her where she is getting critical care as long as possible.
❤️❤️❤️
What is her diagnosis and her prognosis for recovery after discussion with her medical team?
Has anyone discussed palliative care or hospice with you?
From the very little information you have given us it is unclear to me if your grandmother's death is expected and imminent or if her recovery is expected.
This doesn't sound like a good plan to me.
Even minimal air transport would be at LEAST 30,000.00, and I don't know of any that would transport an elder on total vent support.
I think it would be very risky to her no matter the type of transport. Have you spoken with EMS about the costs of such a move? Has any hospital agreed to accept your grandmother at their facility?
As this would be something you would be doing for yourself in any likelihood that your grandmother will be sedated in order to tolerate her intubation now for the remainder of her life, I think this is overall not a good idea unless grandmother's team of medical care has suggested otherwise.
I would discuss this with your grandmother's medical team.
I am very sorry for the loss you are sustaining and for your grief.
Moving your Grandmother...
I am struggling to see how moving someone in this serious condition would help HER?
"I won’t be able to visit her or make sure she is getting the care she needs to have a longer life."
Q1 Why can't you travel to her? Are you really considering moving such an ill person for your own convenience?
Q2 Are you the only person that can ensure she gets good care? Keeping up to date or overseeing her care (IF you are medical POA) can be done via phone/video call to medical staff.
Q3 Longer life? Why?
What about QUALITY of life?
I am being blunt with good reason. You are grieving.
Maybe at the 'bargaining' stage of denial. Trying to find magical solutions.
Use your common sense & EMPATHY. Do not move such a ill person if it does not directly benefit them.
If Grandmother's health is expected to improve, move her later. When she is not ventilated, when she is ok.
But if this is more of an end of life situation - travel to her & face facts.
thank you for your concern. ❤️❤️❤️❤️