Stay with me during the surgery, drive me home, stay with me over night in my home ( One Night ) and drive me to and from the doctors office the next day to ensure there is no infection in my eye or other problem. I am 71 years old on Original Medicare. Is there a bonded Senior Care Agency that can provide these services?
The local public transit authority has a paratransit, or "small bus" service that would take me to and from the surgical center if it was w/I ten miles of the pickup point (my house). The cost then was $1.00. Can't beat that!
However, I didn't need or want anyone to stay with me - I would still have had the existing vision in the other eye. An overnight helper changes the dynamics.
If you live in an area where you can trust people (I don't), you could contact your local senior center and see if there are any helpers who could either provide transportation or overnight assistance at home. I don't think that there is any screening involved with volunteers through senior centers, so you could be taking a chance with someone you don't know.
As to transit only, there are also various services, such as the "ambulettes", which could take you to the surgical center and back, but you'd still be facing the issue of overnight care. The ambulettes and similar services used to run about $40 one way.
I recently found a veteran's ambulette service, but the mileage was over $3/per mile, which I thought was exorbitant. And there's also a flat rate for the trip, which was also high.
Some counties have lists of/links to senior services; trying that is another option.
If you have to hire one of the private duty companies, you'd probably have to sign a contract, and would likely get someone of their choice. I just went through that; even though I hired an agency with a good reputation, two out of the three people provided didn't meet basic standards. One was so bad I let her go early just to get her out of the house.
Also, as Barb suggested, ask your opthalomologist who's performing the surgery; I'm sure they've encountered this before. Usually there's a person who"boards" (schedules) surgery who makes these kinds of arrangements for patients.
Do you have any friends or relatives who could stay with you?
Another idea is, if there is a university nearby with a school of nursing, you might be able to hire a couple of RNs in training to help, they could work in shifts so as not to miss class time.
Isolation isn't good for us as we age. Do you belong to a Senior Center? Look into that. They can be a good source of help for just this kind of situation.
I probably would schedule the schedule the surgery around the availability of the two caregivers that Dad used. Just having someone in the house after such a procedure can give one a sense of safety.
Had to go this route because of the lack of friends and the wife not allowed to drive.
Around here the docs will not do the procedure unless there is someone present the whole time. No taxis, no public transportation.
Older people are notoriously taken advantage of by scammers and such, even taxi drivers and those wanting to fleece the unsuspecting. It's physical, legal and financial safety they are trying to protect you from. Hoping the surgery goes well like it did for my mom.
Then we can see what services are in that neighborhood.
I understand not wanting someone in the house but, I think the reason the docs want someone with you is that, if you have a cataract in one eye, it's likely that you have one in the other eye too.
It's hard enough to see through 2 "foggy" eyes but its even worse to see at night with one eye bandaged. It's a risk of a fall ready to happen, especially if the person is already unsteady and/or uses a cane or walker.
Another one of those,"It's for your own good." situations.
Just my 2 pesos.
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