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Elderly parents
Original poster

Getting MIL to appointments

34 replies

TurkeysarenotjustforChristmas · 02/01/2025 14:47

Hello so we live some distance away from my MIL and too far to provide emergency cover. She had a fall over Christmas and it looks like she will need repeat hospital trips and potentially some emergency tests for other issues such as Dementia and cancer.

We have been able to sort this over Christmas, but we are back at work next week and have no clue on how to get her to her appointments from then on. She isn't very coherent at the moment, won't get a taxi on her own, may try to drive (I know, I know - we are sorting it) and isn't currently keeping track of dates.

Up till now she has carers going in twice a day, and these will be upped to 4 times a day. But I am not sure what my options are for transport. Can anyone give any advice or experience of managing this? We can't move closer as we run our own business. And MIL is not prepared to move away from her home.

OP posts:
Tiree1965 · 02/01/2025 15:26

The appointment letters should provide details of how to book patient transport. I used to arrange this for my mum as she wasn't mobile enough to get herself to hospital. There are a lot of questions to establish if it's needed or not but an invaluable service.

TallulahBetty · 02/01/2025 15:21

Take her keys away asap. No good saying 'we are sorting it'; sounds like it needs to be done now.

Baileysatchristmas · 02/01/2025 15:20

Can she get hospital transport? Is there a local volunteer driver service?

MrsRobinsonsHandprints · 02/01/2025 15:20

Parker231 · 02/01/2025 15:19

Engage private carers to do hospital appointments, shopping, cleaning etc. Has she claimed the attendance allowance?

Yes this is a good idea as then isn't alone in taxi

MrsRobinsonsHandprints · 02/01/2025 15:20

You have to take away her keys now. Today.

Has she been referred to adult SS?

Tbh hospital transport is just a volunteer driver so no different to a taxi so I don't think that will solve it.

mumonthehill · 02/01/2025 15:19

Hospital transport but it can mean long days. Look for local community transport organisations in her area as they would be able to help.

Parker231 · 02/01/2025 15:19

Engage private carers to do hospital appointments, shopping, cleaning etc. Has she claimed the attendance allowance?

Mrsttcno1 · 02/01/2025 15:17

Agree with previous poster to get in touch with the hospital to organise patient transfer for her, we had to do this for my granda and are getting to the point where we will also have to do this for my gran and they were really good

28andgreat · 02/01/2025 15:05

Can you ring whoever the appointments with and explain the situation? Hospital transport is offered in my local hospital (Midlands) but needs to be booked quite far in advance