House Call with a Twist

We have always known that our medical chaperones are creative, quick-witted, and go beyond to remove any barrier that might come up when accompanying their client to a doctor’s appointment. Nevertheless, we never would have anticipated this scenario.

One of our chaperones accompanied her client on a routine follow-up dentist’s appointment where her stitches from an earlier procedure were to be removed. This client uses a wheelchair, so the chaperone and she traveled to the appointment in a wheelchair-accessible van. Upon arrival, they discovered that the access ramp into the building was blocked by a parked car. Fortunately, they arrived early at the appointment, allowing the chaperone and driver to drive around the block, thinking that the vehicle must be temporarily parked there for some unusual reason and would be leaving soon. After circling the block a few times, it became clear that the car blocking the ramp was not moving any time soon. With nowhere else to go, the driver parked the van off to the side, but there was not enough room to get the wheelchair in and out of the vehicle. The dentist’s office was called to notify the practice as to why the patient was not present in their waiting room, and the chaperone indicated to them that rescheduling the appointment was not an ideal option. In the end, the dentist and his medical assistant came out to the van to examine the patient and remove her stitches. After getting the “all clear” from the dentist, the chaperone was able to accompany the patient back to her home.

This situation shows that you never know exactly what challenge is ahead of you, but having a trusted chaperone by your side can help someone navigate the unexpected by offering emotional support, practical assistance, and a sense of well-being and security.

If you are interested in utilizing a medical chaperone, please contact Gwen McClure at the Agency on Aging at 203.752.3059.