Serra Medical Transportation Burlingame

We Americans are mobile people and the urge to be able to move around freely is built into our genes. A key factor in this desire to be mobile is being able to drive. It means that you are able to go where you want, when you want, without needing the help of anyone. In fact, being mobile is part of being independent. We often take it for granted that we can jump into a car and drive anytime to run errands or to meet a friend for a meal. That is, we do so until it becomes a problem. Often age and/or medical problems can prevent a person from driving or severely limit the amount and type of driving that are safe and possible. An example of this is vision changes that come with increasing age. That is why so many of the elderly do not drive at night. Or it may be a case where for age or medical reasons, some days are just difficult for driving. What Are The Alternatives? Not being able to drive does not mean being able to go out. There are a number of alternatives availabl

Suffering from a stroke is serious with consequences that can often be life-altering. However, advances in medicine have made it also a medical condition from which it is possible to recover to the extent that the patient is able to resume normal activities in a reasonably short period of time. However, there are several precautions that need to be taken during the recovery period and not driving is one of them. Why You Should Not Drive Driving, no matter how comfortable you are doing it, is a strain, both physical and mental. This is not something you should be subjected to while recovering from a stroke. In addition, the stroke could leave you with the following factors that could affect your ability to drive safely: Vision problems including difficulty in judging distances Confusion about road rules Fluctuating ability to focus and concentrate Slower reactions Possibility of dizzy spells or blackouts General physical and sensory debility Th

A major problem with advancing years is the increasing difficulty in driving. Vision issues, reflexes, pains and infirmities all collude to make this essential part of life increasingly difficult. Besides the practical problems that not driving presents, there is also the depression that often sets in as you feel that your freedom has been curtailed. Continuing to drive when it is no longer safe to do so because of age-related issues is one of the major causes of accidents among senior citizens. Image Courtesy: Pixabay The Risk •  Vision provides approximately 85% of the inputs a driver needs to drive safely and by the age of 60, eyesight is generally weak. •  At the age of 60, a person needs ten times more light to drive than a person aged 20. •  At the age of 55, the time required for the eyes to recover from glare is eight-time longer than for an 18-year-old. •  Older drivers need twice as much time to react to the flash of brake lights as compared to youn

Being sick or injured is never fun and being stuck at home often makes a person feel even worse. At times, being able to go out, even for a short while, can make for a refreshing change and result in the patient feeling better. Of course, if it is a major illness or injury, a doctor should give the okay for traveling, even if only for a short while. And of course, leaving the home while suffering from an infectious condition is a big no-no. Image Courtesy: Pexels If you are allowed to go out, driving yourself can be a tempting option. It does give you a feeling of independence that your illness or injury has taken from you. But driving when unwell is not just unsafe, it can be dangerous to you and to others as well. A recent survey revealed that when people thought they were too ill to go to work, a large number of them still thought they were well enough to drive. That is always a big mistake. Safe driving demands both concentration and fast reactions. Both of these can be ne

Well qualified doctors, attentive support staff and the very best of medical services around you, but alas just out of your reach due to transportation barriers. This is the core issue that Non - Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) addresses. According to the AHA, 3.6 million people miss out on medical care because they do not have proper transportation means. Children not accessing healthcare due to transport issues constitutes 4% of the 3.6 million.   This is where NEMT comes into the picture. When a person is unable to meet his/her medical appointment, it affects the patient as well as the hospital which loses its revenue. Consequently, the patient’s health deteriorates and the final cost of treatment would be much higher than what it would have been if the appointment had been kept. Thus NEMT meets the needs of the elderly, the needs of children, those suffering from chronic illness and the physically and mentally disabled as well.  Servicing the Elderly: Senior

Being in a wheelchair all day can become very uncomfortable. And discomfort is the last thing you need when coping with the challenges that wheelchair life places before you. Being uncomfortable affects your ability to focus, concentrate and to function to the best possible level. This is bad enough at home or work, but it can be much worse while traveling. Whatever be the distance you need to go or the reason for the trip, being comfortable and secure will enhance your ability to function at your destination. When compared to what was available a century ago, the modern wheelchair is very flexible and comfortable. That does not mean that it cannot be made more user-friendly. Every person’s physique is different so what suits one user may not work for another. That is why using the right accessories is so important in making your wheelchair more comfortable. Image Courtesy: Pixabay Lumbar Support: Lower back pain is a very common problem for wheelchair users . The most com

Whether you live in California or are visiting from somewhere else, spending time in the Bay Area to explore the open air wonders it offers is a must do. For those who are in wheelchairs or have mobility issues that limit the things they can do, the Bay Area has a great deal to offer. Whether you are traveling alone, or with others who have mobility issues or are with friends or family who does not have the same challenge you face, there is a lot to see and do. Here is a list of just some of the options open to you. Image Courtesy: Pexels The Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors provide sailing instructions and access to boats for people with varying degrees of disability. Whether you just want a trip in a boat or want to learn to sail, this is where you can do it. Call  (415)281-0212 for more information. The Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program has a wide range of outdoor activities including hand cycling, urban explorations, group adventure outings and so

Joint replacement surgery is becoming increasingly common. The object is to enable patients to regain the mobility and freedom of movement they have lost. After having lived with joint pain and limited mobility for a long time, getting your joint replacement surgery done will give you a huge sense of relief. You can now look forward to being pain free and having your freedom of movement back again. Keep in mind that replacing a hip or knee is not a small thing, it is major surgery and you need to take your time and recover properly, failing which the new joint could be affected and the end result of the procedure less than what you expect. How long your recovery takes and what you need to do during that time will be communicated to you by your doctor. Image Courtesy: Pexels It often happens that the improved mobility even shortly after the recovery begins leads patients to presume that they are fit to undertake more than they safely can. This can result in major complications.

When a person is no longer able to drive, the effect of the loss of mobility and freedom can be devastating. In the cases of the elderly, who may have been driving for half a century or more, the loss is often traumatic. The loss of freedom to access and participate in those activities that have been a staple of life for decades can result in stress, depression and a range of other problems, both physical and mental. The effect that this loss of mobility has, is often not noticed by friends and loved ones because the elderly are frequently too stubborn or proud to let others know how it affects them. Hiding the impact and bottling it up inside only makes the problem worse and the depression continues to grow unseen, often till it reaches a breaking point. A frequently asked question is - why can’t the elderly use other forms of transport? Image Courtesy: Pexels The Other Options Public transport would appear to be an option. However, for many seniors, a bus or subway journey is

With advancing years come physical problems that can make life difficult. The elderly often do not realize their own frailties and prefer to live alone in a place and conditions that they are familiar with, even if going to an assisted living facility would be safer and more convenient. According to research by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) about 90% of people of the age of 65 and more want to live in their own homes for as long as they can. Studies reveal that living at home may offer emotional benefits to seniors, but that does not outweigh the psychological and physical issues and risks that exist. Image Courtesy: Pexels Signs of Problems If you have a loved one who is living alone and who will not move to a senior care center, trying to force the issues is often unwise. Instead, it is better to monitor the situation to know when staying alone is simply no longer safe. Among the many signs, these are some of the most common: Inability to look afte

An injury or surgical procedure performed on the back, hips, pelvis, legs or feet could result in the patient being on crutches for some period of time. While crutches do allow for the patient to be mobile, living with them is never going to be easy. Being able to move short distances on your own, without needing someone’s help, is good, but what you do when you get there is another matter. You can’t carry much in your arms if you are using crutches. Once you get to where you are going, unless you are seated, there is only so much you can do while holding on to the crutches.There are some hacks that will make your time on crutches more comfortable and give you the maximum freedom. Image Courtesy: Pexels • The first thing is to ensure that the crutches are as comfortable as possible. Ensure they are the right size and that they are properly cushioned. Make sure they are properly balanced – using unbalanced ones only increases the strain. Ensure that the tips are non-slip so you w

The thought of amputation is one that the mind does not want to dwell on. However, it does happen and it is done when a limb is damaged beyond repair or when not removing it could lead to other medical complications. Of all amputations, those of the leg are most common. Losing one or both legs is a hugely traumatic experience, both physically as well as mentally and spiritually. That is why physiotherapy and counseling are essential components of any amputation procedure. Image Courtesy : Pexels Be Prepared For Change Change is not limited to the way your body is now different. It is in the way you interact with the world and the world interacts with you. You should be prepared for: Getting used to the prosthetic. It will never be the same as a real leg, but it is, literally, the next best thing. People treating you differently. People you don’t know and even those you do, will not be sure how to treat and respond to you. It is not that they feel sorry for you or