Mom is 93, has dementia, and is pretty much homebound now. So far this year, we have not been able to get her out to Walgreens for her annual flu shot. Called the home health service company we have used in the past for bedsore treatment. The rep told me that the service does not offer flu, pneumonia, or TB shots. I was surprised.
So, what do I do?
One of the hospitals in Baltimore, Maryland was doing that this weekend.
Another take, in light of having re-read the book, Being Mortal: Is your mother having a really great quality of life or is she in the long, slow decline of dementia? Modern medicine has kept us alive a long time past our expiration dates so we are living with dementia for a loooong time. We used to die before dementia did us in about 15+ years after the first signs. Pneumonia is a fast death and is the main fatal illness that the flu causes. If your mom gets the flu, would you allow her to die quickly with pneumonia or would you rather her live trapped in her body for years like my mthr? Mine can't tell you her name or speak, can't walk, and could not even tell anyone that she was in pain from her knees. Pneumonia may be the way mthr escapes a year or two bedbound from dementia and developing painful bedsores. Being unable to find a flu shot may be the best thing to happen to your mom in the long run. I've made the decision not to have mthr inoculated this year.
https://heal.com/care/flu-shots/
In general, getting a doctor to come to your house is awesome. Factoring the cost of wheelchair transport and the copay for a conventional doctor, the out of pocket cost for a house call doctor can be about the same or even cheaper. The reduction in hassle and stress is priceless. Their hours are much better than conventional doctors. Some insurance companies will even cover these house call doctors.
Moving on to get her TB shot, which no one seems to offer, including home health care. So will probably follow up with the mobile doctor service.
Really appreciate everyone taking the time to comment!!
If you are getting a TB test, that would be at the health department every time. That was the first time I'd ever been there. Any medical professional can then read the test 3 days later. We needed it for her to move into the Memory Care where she lives.
Happy New Year everyone!