Commentor Aliasofwestgate:
I’m an irregular commentor here since about 2009ish, but I’ve always loved the place.
My Mom has been in and out of the hospital since November. At the moment she’s in a rehab facility nearby for physical and occupational therapy. I’m in Michigan, which has some pretty crazy Medicaid laws. But mostly the fact that I’ve been denied help with bills that should have been taken care of but was unable to due to things being pending in applying and stuff I know they outright won’t cover, and rehab facility fees for her being even a temporary resident.
There’s also the fact that Mom’s an immigrant. She may be a Permanent Resident and has been for nigh on 40 years, but I’ve been denied from pretty much any place I’ve applied to for help.
I mostly need some extra money to fund a possible hospital bed copayment (lowball estimate $500), and wheelchair bus rides to and from the facility, which is definitely not covered right now with her supplemental or Medicare. I’m planning on getting her a Rollator style walker for home, and have some equipment already in the house to be installed soon. But the walker is the one thing I’m planning on, along with the bed for sure. My very lowball estimate of $1500 should take care of the worst of it.
I’m a freelance transcriptionist myself, but the money is not that good. Especially since i’m not a professionally trained one.
I have a ko-fi at http://ko-fi.com/A5533LVN , which works something like Patreon, but not as structured.
My paypal address is [email protected].
Oh, we also have a tubby, goofball minpin/JRT mix called Lady who misses Mom a lot. We know she’s coming home, but it’s gonna be a while yet.
David Anderson
I sent up the wonk flares
Bummer
If your town has public transportation you should be able to get handicapped accessible rides as well. When I was taking care of my mom (pancreatic cancer, so wheelchair) I checked out medical transportation which was super expensive. Then I found out that our town has dialARide door-to-door buses with wheelchair lifts. Saved a fortune and the drivers were super nice.
Ohio Mom
I see stuff like hospital beds and wheel chairs on Craig’s List pretty frequently.
Also, Goodwill here in Cincinnati has a medical equipment loaner program for hospital beds, walkers, etc. Maybe your local Goodwill has a similar program.
Why yes, I did buy an almost new Land’s End blouse at St. Vicent DePaul today for $3.99. Fits me perfectly and is very flattering.
Bumper
Ok, first comment is in moderation because I misspelled my nym. Freudian slip maybe because it generally describes my current mood. Can someone help? Thx
Barbara
Is your mother covered by Medicare or Medicaid or both?
Bumper
Also, after she died we donated her hospital bed, walker and other supplies. If you check around there’s got to be lots of those types of things out there.
Ohio Mom
My secret to finding movers to haul single pieces of hand-me-down and other used furniture from one end of town to another is to ask a furniture consignment store who they would recommend. They usually have a collection of business cards from the movers they use and they are happy to send more work to their pals.
That’s in case you find something on Craig’s List.
Barbara
@Ohio Mom: I donated all of my mother’s medical equipment to Goodwill. They were thrilled to receive it because they have such a steady demand.
Ohio Mom
@Barbara: I didn’t know about the Goodwill medical equipment loaner program until last month when I stopped in the Boutique store in my neighborhood and saw a sign announcing it. I guess they get a fair amount of medical equipment donated to them from families like yours.
The Boutique store is a perk of living in a nicer suburb. Goodwill sends all the best stuff there. It’s a little pricier than the regular stores but a better selection.
Harbison
If you can’t find it at Goodwill or St. Vincent De Paul, don’t forget to check Amazon
Just went through something similar with my father a few months ago, we found one of those rolling walker things for like $45, which was 1/3 of what the local “medical supply” place was selling them for. Looked, to me anyway, like exactly the same one.
satby
PayPalled some scratch, wish it was more. Good luck!
sukabi
Don’t know if there’s a Visiting Nurses thrift organization in your area, if there is they have a medical equipment bank, that loans equipment — mostly the smaller items, wheel chairs, canes , walkers, bathroom items…for free.
stjudedewitt.com/medical-equipment-loan-closet
sukabi
https://loanclosets.org
polyorchnid octopunch
Christ almighty US health care is a dystopic hellscape.
sukabi
@polyorchnid octopunch: why yes, yes it is.
Jackie
I hope you already know, but there should be a social worker or discharge coordinator at your rehab center that may be able to point you to resources. Unfortunately yours is not an uncommon problem.