Hi catly,
First let me say I am sorry your husband will be needing long term
care. Having been through this experience myself a few times, I’d like
to remind you to take care of yourself as well. It is emotionally
draining to spend all day with a hospitalized family member, therefore
it is important that you eat and rest well during your husband’s stay.
You did not say if you planned to stay in Seattle during your
husband’s extended hospital stay. Since it seems your town is about 30
minutes from Seattle, I will address your question as if you were
planning to commute daily.
Here is the University of Seattle Hospital’s website:
http://www.washington.edu/medicine/uwmc/
Transportation:
Shuttle Express
(800) 487-7433 (425) 981-7000
Shared ride,door-to-door service
Fares: 1-3 Adults $21; 4 @ $24; 5 @ $36; 6 @ $41; 7 @ $46
Also offers “express car” service at premium rates
http://www.shuttleexpress.com/airportsvc/fs_shuttle.html
This link has dozens of limousine/shuttle companies in the Seattle
area:
http://www.thecityofseattle.com/limo/index.html
In case you drive from home: Directions to the U of W Hospital in
Seattle, coming from the north, via I-5. This site also has a
printable map.
http://www.washington.edu/admin/parking/directions/uwmcn.html
Here are two driving routes, from UW-Seattle to Bothell, found on the
UW-Bothell site:
From UW Seattle:
(Approximately 30-minute drive time from UW Seattle campus — average
traffic conditions–via all routes listed below.)
Via I-5 north or SR 522/Floating Bridge and I-405 North:
· Option 1: Take I-5 North to I-405 interchange at Lynnwood. Follow
directions listed above from North I-405.
· Option 2: Take Montlake Boulevard.
· Go south, crossing University Bridge, to SR 520 East ramp toward
Bellevue/Kirkland.
· Take the I-405 North exit toward Everett.
· Follow South/East I-405 directions above.
Via SR 522/Lake City/Bothell Way NE:
· Take Montlake Boulevard north.
· Montlake Boulevard becomes 25th Avenue NE.
· Continue north on 25th Avenue NE and merge onto Lake City Way NE (SR
522).
· Continue north on Lake City Way — it becomes Bothell Way past 145
Street NE.
· Follow the center lane — Main Street — at Bothell interchange and
proceed through Bothell.
· Main Street becomes Beardslee Boulevard.
· Proceed 7/10 mile to the light (will see large UW Bothell/Cascadia
CC sign).
· Turn RIGHT at the light onto 110th Avenue NE, and proceed to stop
sign.
· Continue straight ahead following signage to UW Bothell South
Parking Garage.
Check local weather conditions before you set out:
KOMO Weather - http://www.komotv.com/weather
In case you decide to stay in a hotel nearby:
The University Inn, 4140, Roosevelt Way, Seattle, 98105 Toll-Free
(800)733-3855
has a complimentary shuttle to the U of W hospital, and seems like a
comfortable place to stay.
http://www.universityinnseattle.com/transportation.htm
The College Inn Bed & Breakfast is directly across the street from the
hospital:
4000 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 (206) 633-4441
http://www.collegeinnseattle.com/
The TravelLodge is also nearby:
http://www.the.wingateinns.com/seattle07053
Finally, if none of my options work out for you, calling the
hospital’s Social Worker, at 206-598-4370 will probably yield some
suggestions. Hospital Social workers are often marvelous at finding
transportation facilities for out of town patients and families. Their
website can be found here:
http://healthlinks.washington.edu/index.cfm?id=DBA72359-D069-47EF-AB07-5575693711B0
(If the above long link does not work for you, try this shorter link
to the same site)
http://tinyurl.com/r499
Once your husband is “settled” in at the hospital, try to root out a
few of the most affable nurses, who often treat families of long term
patients with a pillow, blanket, juice and free access to the ice
machine! If you need help with anything, don’t hesitate to speak to
the Social Worker. Don’t forget to make use of the Hospital
Chaplain’s services if you want to. Volunteers will probably make
their rounds daily with their magazine,paperback and snack-laden
carts. Personal grooming supplies are available in the gift shop, but
will be very expensive. Bring what you anticipate needing, and find a
discount/drugstore near your hotel, if you stay in Seattle. Some
larger hospitals have laundry facilities for long term patient
families, but I could not find this on the U of W Hospital site.
Again, don’t forget to get adequate rest and nutrition for yourself! I
wish you and your husband the best!
If I left anything that you had wanted addressed, please ask for an
answer clarification, and I will be happy to respond!
Regards,
crabcakes-ga
Search strategy:
Seattle Transportation
Bothell Seattle transportation
University Washington Hospital
Lodging Seattle Washington |
Request for Answer Clarification by
catly-ga
on
16 Oct 2003 02:10 PDT
I forgot to mention that I am blind and do not drive; that is the crux
of the problem. I also have fibromyalgia, so the regular bus system is
too difficult/painful. Paratransit likes 7 days in advance and
neither my husband nor I know how to "plan" illnesses etc, 7 days in
advance. Sometimes paratransit works okay but not altogether. I
don't have funds for limousines. Cab fare, one way is around $40
bucks; I actually did it once! Jeez Louise! Thanks.
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
catly-ga
on
16 Oct 2003 02:12 PDT
Oh yeah, all the UW hospital social worker could think of was
referring a couple hotels; no help at all for transportation.
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Clarification of Answer by
crabcakes-ga
on
16 Oct 2003 08:24 PDT
Hello catly, Thank you for the clarification. The additional
information is most helpful.
Will you be staying in Seattle then, at a hotel? Staying locally
sounds like your simplest solution. Do you have any friends or family
who can stay with you? Please let me know if you can stay locally, as
there are a lot of facilities close by, and I could contact them for
you. When is your husband's stay scheduled?
Thank you,
crabcakes-ga
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Clarification of Answer by
crabcakes-ga
on
16 Oct 2003 11:29 PDT
Hello again catly,
While I wait for you to let me know when you expect to be needing
these services,I made several phone calls.
I spoke to a very nice woman named Marie at the Deaf/Blind Services at
UW
206-323-9178 TTY/TTD 206-323-9178 who told me there are services
for you. She suggested I call Community Services for the Blind, UW
1-800-458-4888 206-525-5556
I called and spoke to a Mr. Joe Hindelman who suggested this:
If you live in Snohomish County, call 206-388-0236. This is Volunteer
Transport.
If you live in King County, call ParaTransit at 206-448-5740
I realise you already called ParaTransit, and they seem to require a
one week notice. Have you explained your circumstances to them?
Perhaps they would be a bit more flexible if you told them of your
circumstances.
Mr. Hindleman also suggested you call his office, 206-525-5556 as they
can help you apply for services. Being local to your area, he may be
able to come up with somehthing that will meet your needs.
Another thing you may check is to call the floor where your husband
will be admitted and advise the nursing staff of your visul
impairment. They may set up a cot in your husband's room for you.
When you have a chance, you may be interested in this website (Not
connected to your question however)
Nan Hawthorne, a writer, lives in Bothell, Washington
http://www.nanhawthorne.com/
I hope this clarification has helped! Please let me know.
Regards,
crabcakes-ga
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Request for Answer Clarification by
catly-ga
on
17 Oct 2003 18:23 PDT
Hi, I know Nan Hawthorne. She doesn't drive any better than I do. We
are both writers and beaders and love cats, so we have much in common
but cannot help each other much with transportation. Her husband
drives, but so far they have not offered help. The person who usually
helps us with cleaning seems to be really busy,, too. I can get the
mail and takeout the trash and do the catbox but much of the rest of
it is too painful due to fibromyalgia, and the work I do is in spurts,
because I cannot stand for very long. I also cannot lift heavy
objects. My husband and I usually do these things together so when
he is gone, I feel overwhelmed especially when it's weeks at a time.
When he went into the hospital, the place was already a mess and,
evidently, it was just thrust into my lap. So far I have not stayed
over in any hotel but have occasionally stayed over in his room.
However, then I need help with a volunteer to help me get meals at the
cafeteria which is a long ways from my husband's room. I also cannot
access my computer from there, so I cannot do my home business when I
am away from home--yet. I have a laptop, (used) but haven't had
anyone to help me learn to use it yet. DSB, services for the blind,
called me today, but it's been weeks since they did. They can help
some with job-related stuff, but not with running errands,
housekeeping, reading mail etc. Community Services help some people
but the last time I called, they didn't have any volunteers available.
And the thing is, sometimes I don't need this help; it's usually on
an emergency basis, with not much notice, and no agencies seem to be
able to help that way. Blindness-wise, I am quite proficient, but,
fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue-wise, I need more help. Most people who
are only blind do not understand this, so my own organization of the
blind doesn't understand and doesn't help, not even doing things
together as friends, because they say I live way out too far. So, the
cats are my only companionship, much of the time, except for Internet
groups, most of whom I have not actually met. Our neighbors live
right here but they don't know us, they shun us; afraid of me
probably, and don't offer help. One neighbor told Jim once that she
could help to let her know, but he doesn't know who she is or where
she lies and she told him, not me. Paratransit has been pretty good
if I can give them enough notice and they have done quite well getting
me to dental/medical appointments, though it takes all day because of
transferring from one county to another. (Bothell is partly in King
County and partly in Snohomish County. The vans don't seem to have
shock absorbers, either, which causes painful rides sometimes, due to
the fibromyalgia. DSB could help me with working at home if they
would respect my needs. Thanks. If you are a sighted person, male,
thin, you may not really understand my situation; don't know. Thanks,
though. There is someinfo here I hadn't heard of yet. Catly.
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Clarification of Answer by
crabcakes-ga
on
18 Oct 2003 11:16 PDT
Hi again catly,
Gosh, it sure sounds rough for you.I get the impression you feel
backed into a corner! It is wonderful that you have the technology and
smarts to use the internet, both for its assistence and entertainment
value!
I will be glad to look further for some services for you. Let me ask
however, if you've looked into services for the disabled in your
town/county. You sound very adept at being self sufficient per your
visual disability, so I can research services for your FMS/CFS.
Would your husband happen to be a war veteran?
How about Medicaid/Medicare? (I have a neighbor with a child who
suffers from cerebral palsy. Medicaid/Social Security bought them a
car in which to transport the child, as well as a computer).
Have you inquired already if they might assist in paying for
transportation that would be needed on a spur-of-the moment basis?
Are you a senior citizen? Are you currently recieving medical
treatment for your FMS/CFS?
What kind of transportation do you prefer? Since vans with poor shock
absorbers are uncomfortable for you, what form is the least painful
for you to endure? What is your typical form of transportation?
Here is the website, phone number and address of Snohomish County
Disabled Services:
http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/humansrv/
(425) 388-7390
Snohomish County
Human Services Dept
2722 Colby Avenue
Everett, WA 98201
8:00am - 5:00pm
If you have not already given this service a try, why not call them:
Snohimish County Special Needs Transportation:
http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/humansrv/CAPSNOTRAC.htm
(425) 388-7207
8:00am - 5:00pm
Snohomish County
Human Services Dept
2722 Colby Avenue
Suite 104
Everett, WA 98201
PS: When I found Nan Hawthorne's site, I brought it to your attention
purely for interest, not as a source of help. I thought you may know
her, or know of her, and you do!
Regards, crabcakes-ga
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