One of the most trying times in a family’s life is when a loved one passes away. Even if the death is somewhat expected after a long illness, there is usually considerable stress for many family members.
People with mobility impairments don
The stress comes, of course, from feelings of grief and bereavement. The loss of a cherished family member can be deeply felt.
Some people experience these feelings at nearly overwhelming levels. At these times, they need to focus on trying to find comfort for themselves, without being distracted by extra responsibility.
Unfortunately, funerals bring another source of stress that can make a difficult situation even harder: the stress involved with the responsibility for “making arrangements”.
Arrangements can include the notification of friends and family, the scheduling and programming of the funeral ceremony, the burial, and the wake or shiva calls following the funeral. More arrangements are needed when planning the meeting of out-of-towners at airports, and physically transporting attendees from one event to the next.
Even more stress can come from making provisions for elderly and disabled attendees. This special group needs extra help paying their last respects, yet the other bereaved family members might be too personally drained to provide that needed assistance.
This is where a professional provider of non-emergency medical transportation can provide a real value to a family in mourning. Wheelchair-equipped vans can safely transport up to 8-10 people, including 1-3 people who are using wheelchairs. Thus, a single van can take the place of up to five cars, and provide an easy, convenient way to transport a somber group from event to event.
During the rides, the family members can have an opportunity to have a communal experience with one another, that might have not otherwise occurred. In this situation, the wheelchair user can enjoy being in the center of the important family experience, rather than being separated due to physical aspects of their disability.
A wheelchair accessible van can transport up to ten family members, including up to three who are using wheelchairs
Too often, wheelchair-enabled friends and relatives find themselves in awkward, dependent circumstances during family events, especially funerals where the attendees move from place to place. They can feel embarrassed when they struggle to transfer from a chair into a car, or when family members struggle with placing a wheelchair in the trunk, or when they must depend on others to navigate difficult terrain such as at cemeteries.
Specialized transportation and trained drivers can turn those negatives into positives. With the right transportation in place, family members can focus on remembering the departed, and not on how to get Uncle Howard in and out of the car. Having the right accessible transportation during funerals and other family events is good for everyone.
Michael Grach of All-Ways Medical Carriers provides non-emergency medical transportation to Chicago's North Shore and Northwest suburbs, including to family events such as funerals
For safe, helpful, on time wheelchair accessible transportation, call 847-279-2740, or email:
info@all-ways.us to schedule your next ride.
