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
The
typical time before resuming driving is about 4 weeks, but this will vary from
case to case. Once the doctor’s clearance has been obtained, and the medical certificate confirming the ability to drive safely has been issued, it is still
important to check with the DMV to know if there are any restrictions on
driving or any formalities, assessments, and checkups that have to be
completed.
Transportation
Problems
Unless
the doctor has advised bed rest or staying at home after returning from the
hospital, a person recovering from a stroke should be able to leave the house
for medical appointments, social visits, and light domestic chores. The problem
is in being transported to the place that he has to go to. Waiting for a taxi is
a huge hassle when recovering from a stroke. Using buses or subways can be too
much of a physical strain. Expecting friends and relatives to be a personal
limo service is both embarrassing and unreasonable, but staying stuck at home
after being medically cleared to go out is frustrating and that is not
something that will help in the recovery process. It is here that Non-Emergency
Medical Transportation (NEMT) offers the solution.
What NEMT
Does
As
the name says, NEMT is a service that provides transportation to those who have
medical conditions that prevent them from driving themselves. NEMT should not
be confused with an ambulance service which is meant only for emergency medical transportation. NEMT can be used for any purpose from going to the doctor,
visiting the library, social visits, routine chores, going to special events
and so on. A NEMT company will have specially equipped vehicles for those who
may need to use wheelchairs or walkers. The best companies will offer services such as doorstep pickup, event standby and more. The
drivers will be specially trained to transport those with medical conditions.
Being able to go out and be active, with medical
approval, can help the recovery process and enable a patient to return to
normal activities quickly. If you are recovering from a stroke or other medical
condition that prohibits you from driving, use the services provided by a NEMT company to stay
mobile and begin your return to normal life.
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