The following safety tips benefit seniors during long distance medical transportation. Tips range to include important items to pack and questions to ask prior to booking your ride.   

There are a number of medical emergencies that may pop up due to long distance travel, especially for seniors with preexisting conditions. As a result, it’s important that drivers are prepared to act appropriately in case of an accident or emergency.

The most important thing is that patients feel safe, comfortable and at peace throughout the entire trip.  Stellar Transportation is here to make that happen with our superior local and long distance non-emergency medical transportation. 

5 Important Things To Bring For Long Distance Transportation

Here are a few things to add to your packing list before heading off on long-distance transportation…

1. Cell Phone

Friends and family will want to contact you, especially since you are traveling long distance. Your cell phone gives you a way to call back home and check in or report anything important that comes up.

2. Contact Information

Make sure to have your closest loved ones’ contact information someone on your person. This makes it easy for your driver, doctor or even you to contact your family or regular caretaker if need be. It’s helpful to have this information clearly written down somewhere outside of your cell phone. 

3. Drinking Water

Bring water with you so that you remain hydrated the entire time.

4. Change Of Clothes + Jacket

If you are going to be gone overnight don’t forget to bring a change of clothes. Even if it’s warm when you leave your house, don’t forget to bring your jacket.

5. Medications & Other Essentials

How long will you be gone for? In that period of time what medications, dietary supplements, reading glasses, eye drops, or anything else do you typically use? Make sure to bring all of these things with you on the road. Our drivers are more than happy to help patients pack up essential belongings. Let us know if this is necessary when booking your ride.

3 Things To Do Prior To Long-Distance Non-Emergency Medical Transportation 

1. Obtain Medical Clearance

Before making the long-distance trip to undergo surgery or some other medical procedure, it’s important to undergo any necessary medical clearance. Otherwise, you risk driving all the way to your appointment for no reason.

If you haven’t already received instruction to do so, call ahead and see if you need any sort of medical clearance prior to your appointment. If you do, some urgent medical centers offer medical clearance in as little as 48 to 78-hours. We highly recommend obtaining medical clearance at least one week ahead of your appointment.

2. Check Reviews & Ask Around

Before you pick just any transportation service for a long-distance trip, make sure to check up on reviews and ask around to ensure you go with a reputable company.

3. Plan Ahead For Dementia Patients

Patients with Alzheimer’s or any other form of dementia rely on schedules and routines to help prevent getting confused. When dementia patients are removed from their day-to-day routine or exposed to a different environment they may become flustered and confused. If you are concerned about your loved one experiencing these sorts of issues, contact us ahead of time. 

Long-distance transportation may be confusing and even stressful for dementia patients. This is why senior sensitivity training is so important, it allows our drivers the knowledge to understand what seniors are going through and help work them through it as best as possible. After all, Stellar Transportation strives to make every ride as smooth and worry-free as possible.