Thanksgiving Day is less than a week away and Christmas will be here before you know it. The holidays aren't all about food, parties, and gifts. A big part of the holiday season is spending time with family. A Shoals ambulance service making sure bed-bound nursing home patients get a chance to go home for the holidays.
Ouida Starkey is ready for Thanksgiving Day to arrive.
"I went to visit one daughter last year and I'm going to the other daughter's house this year," says Starkey.
The 77-year-old lives at Cottage of the Shoals in Tuscumbia, but on Thanksgiving Day, she'll be with her five children, thirteen grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren.
"Oh, it's so much fun," says Starkey. "All the little ones are so sweet."
Starkey will be chauffeured to and from her daughter's house, courtesy of Med Call.
"We really cherish the family unit and we feel it's important for people to have the opportunity to go home," explains Med Call Operations Manager Jesse Testerman.
Testerman says Med Call paramedics will pick up and drop off bed-bound nursing home patients using their fleet of ambulances.
"Unfortunately, not every family is able to transport their loved ones from a nursing home to their home for any length of time and bring them back," says Testerman. "That's where we come in."
The project, called "Home for the Holidays", is in it's fourth year. There is no charge to participate, but Testerman says the generosity definitely pays off.
"We get a lot of hugs and kisses and I can't even tell you how many plates of food I get," jokes Testerman.
Food, fun, and fellowship are all the things Ouida Starkey is looking forward to.
"I think it's a wonderful thing that they do," says Starkey. "I'm very grateful."
If you have a family member that's bed-bound and would like them to sign up to participate in the "Home for the Holidays" project, contact Med Call in Muscle Shoals at (256) 381-5055. In order to accommodate everyone, Testerman asks that all requests be within 45 miles of their office on State Street.
Ouida Starkey is ready for Thanksgiving Day to arrive.
"I went to visit one daughter last year and I'm going to the other daughter's house this year," says Starkey.
The 77-year-old lives at Cottage of the Shoals in Tuscumbia, but on Thanksgiving Day, she'll be with her five children, thirteen grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren.
"Oh, it's so much fun," says Starkey. "All the little ones are so sweet."
Starkey will be chauffeured to and from her daughter's house, courtesy of Med Call.
"We really cherish the family unit and we feel it's important for people to have the opportunity to go home," explains Med Call Operations Manager Jesse Testerman.
Testerman says Med Call paramedics will pick up and drop off bed-bound nursing home patients using their fleet of ambulances.
"Unfortunately, not every family is able to transport their loved ones from a nursing home to their home for any length of time and bring them back," says Testerman. "That's where we come in."
The project, called "Home for the Holidays", is in it's fourth year. There is no charge to participate, but Testerman says the generosity definitely pays off.
"We get a lot of hugs and kisses and I can't even tell you how many plates of food I get," jokes Testerman.
Food, fun, and fellowship are all the things Ouida Starkey is looking forward to.
"I think it's a wonderful thing that they do," says Starkey. "I'm very grateful."
If you have a family member that's bed-bound and would like them to sign up to participate in the "Home for the Holidays" project, contact Med Call in Muscle Shoals at (256) 381-5055. In order to accommodate everyone, Testerman asks that all requests be within 45 miles of their office on State Street.
