Crowdfunding is a popular choice for many Australian families looking to raise funds for a loved one in hospital. Often when a loved one whether it’s a family member or friend falls ill, it is a critical and stressful time. Crowdfunding is ideal because it allows individuals to pledge and donate money immediately. It is easy to setup and is based online which means donations can come in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Here are 5 ways that crowdfunding can be used to help a patient in hospital.
1) Cover Treatment Costs While in Public or Private Hospital
For many patients in hospital, the duration of time that a patient will stay in hospital varies depending on the type of illness or disease an individual has been diagnosed with and the severity of it.
Often this can mean weeks or even up to months in hospital. Depending on where an individual is getting medical treatment from, either from a public or private hospital, the costs can vary. If the patient is residing in a private hospital, the costs can add up tremendously for a family.
Crowdfunding can therefore be helpful for individuals who are currently in a public hospital, however looking to switch over to a private hospital. This may be to work with a particular specialist or to improve the quality of care being received.
Public hospitals can often have long waiting lists for surgeries and availability of hospital beds. Crowd funding for better health care and treatment, means better chances for the patient to have a full recovery.
Other reasons for using crowdfunding could be to raise funds for treatment elsewhere. This could be outer state or in another country all together.
2) Pay For Accommodation And Transport Costs
For families that require to go back and forth to a hospital for treatment, the cost for accommodation and transport can be very expensive. Raising funds for these costs means that families can stay together and have a greater support network for their sick loved one.
Rural and remote families can often face these problems which can stop patients from seeking much needed help and medical treatment. Avoiding or delaying doctor’s appointments for example, is a common decision families have considered due to the financial costs associated with transport and accommodation.
Being able to use crowdfunding to pay for these costs can make a huge difference in the recovery of not only the patient but the well-being of the whole family.
3) Pay For Carer Costs and Household Bills
When a loved one falls ill, everything can stop in an instant. Loss of employment due to relocation or due to illness can be a devastating hit to the family’s ongoing livelihood.
This is where crowdfunding can help. Raising funds to cover the costs of a full time carer, means that a family member can continue working without worrying about their loved one in hospital and even after hospitalisation.
It also means that the ongoing household bills that may be more than usual are covered.
4) Modifications On The Home
Patients in the hospital with a disability or brain injury for example can have an overwhelming process to transition back to the home. This could mean wheelchair accessibility and other modifications are needed to be made before a loved one can come back home.
Due to time sensitivity and safety, these costs can often be very expensive to complete. Crowdfunding enables families to seek funding from friends and family to help cover these costs that can be immediate and are often cost a lot.
5) Equipment and Therapy
Living with a disability or illness can mean long term costs all year round. These costs can often impact the family tremendously. Crowdfunding is great to be able to seek the best recovery and ongoing treatment needed for your loved one. This can mean being able to cover the cost of equipment like hearing aids and wheelchairs for the betterment of the individual. It can also mean taking your loved one to therapy, rehabilitation or even spending the money for your child to attend special education classes or early development courses to help boost their development.