A family member had a stroke and is completely paralyzed on the left side. She can stay in a special wheelchair for only up to 4 hours and cannot stand or sit up on her own at all. She needs a Hoyer lift to be transferred from her bed to her wheelchair. She also has dementia.
Three years ago, my dad became paralysed and we needed to get him from Thailand to the UK. That's nearly 6,000 miles, so 3 times more than you are asking about.
One company quoted at least £100,000 to bring him home via air ambulance - completely beyond our means. In the end, he could be brought home on a commercial flight with two nurses, through a different company, at a cost of £22,000.
However, he could be sat up just long enough and he was in a seat that could mostly lie back. He had to agree to a DNR if he had a heart attack or stopped breathing mid flight. And he wasn't affected by dementia, so he could give his consent and he understood what was happening. It was a gruelling journey for him and he was in great pain.
Even after it was all arranged and paid for, the pilot nearly didn't allow him on the flight because of the safety risk to other passengers, in the case of an emergency landing. We would have lost all that money if the nurses hadn't been able to persuade the flight captain.
If the 2000 mile journey is made by ambulance, that would be a very long and harrowing journey. You would have to determine if it's really worth it.
You won't be able to get her into an RV if she requires a Hoyer lift (plus "someone" will need to attend to her hygiene needs, among other things). And in her condition, she can't take a commercial flight. Unless "someone" has scads of money to pay for her transport, you may need to consider she stay where she's at.
Does she have a PoA or is someone her legal guardian? Why is she being relocated?
I’ve taken care of a family member post-stroke. I wouldn’t do what you are describing for any reason.
Why is she being relocated and is it absolutely necessary?
Air ambulance is another option since it is a 2400 mile trip.
It doesn't sound like they would be able to fly with a regular airline because they can only sit up for 4 hours.
This is a huge ask. I think I have seem a few come to forum over five years asking about the possibilities of moving state to state with a whole lot of needs involved, but yours is perhaps the biggest "ask". I don't know that you will find many who have "done it" here, but I surely hope I am wrong.
Good luck Elizabeth, and let me just beg of you, if you make such a move, please do just update us here. The things you can provide with your own caregiving is essential to Aging Care, and people's lives are changed by the sharing on this site. I promise you that.
1 The easy way would be to get a Medical Transport company. This will be the easiest and most expensive. (It is possible that the expense cold be a Medical Expense and therefore tax deductible) (check with your tax preparer first)
2. Rent an RV or a Medical Van. With an RV the person could laydown or be seated in the wheelchair. Changes of briefs (aka "diapers") could be done with the person laying down. the best way to do this would be to hire an Aide if you or someone else is not comfortable with changing someone laying down. this also would take at least 2 or 3 people to make the trip safe. One drive and one or two to care for the person being transported.
In either case pre medicating to make the trip more comfortable and prevent stress, anxiety would be ideal.
Side note if the person is on Hospice or Hospice eligible the Hospice may be able to help with arranging transport or if they are going from one facility to another either of the facilities could help with arrangements in both cases this would be the Medical Transport. It would take some of the stress off you making the arrangements.
2500 miles in like going from Philly to LA. This will be very expensive. And as Alva pointed out, Medicare will go over State lines but private insurance does not unless Medigap and Medicaid does not. We were going to transport my MIL from central Florida to Atlanta 10 yrs ago and the cost was going to be 2k for 7 hrs. It was a nice transport, I was going with her and had a nice chair her a comfortable bed. No need for an RN.