Caring For Aging Parents Support Group
Caring for aging parents can be a difficul time as we become the caretakers for our parents. This broad responsibility can encompass such services as assisted living, adult day care, long term care, nursing homes, hospice care, and in-home care. Whether you have just started caring for your parents or just need a place to talk, we're here.
Hi All,
Well , Mom trying to get out of bed by herself, finally caught up with her. I got a call at 2:15am, and saw it was the nursing home.
I immediately thought, OH NO...this is it..the phone call I've been dreading...
They said she fell trying to get up without calling for help, to go to the bathroom and fell, and cut her head.
they said it was a cut that needed stitches or staples, so they called an ambulance, to transport her to a local hospital. Actually, it's the one she had been in, for 5-6 months when she was getting over her 4 bouts of pneumonia, and C-Diff.
So, I haven't heard yet, but I'm assuming they will have her stay at least one night.
funny thing though...She was set up to be discharged from the Rehab center, next week, and the social worker was getting info about Assisted Living homes, since she is not safe living here with me, and would really need 24 hour care, of which I cannot provide, with my current physical disability and availability.
But what will happen if she DOES go into Assisted Living? she could fall there, and they don't have someone there to watch her all of the time. The next time she falls, god forbid...she may break a hip or something. I am at my wits end about now....
Now that she is going back in the hospital, although it may only be for one or 2 days....will her Hospital coverage thru Medicare, start over ??????
She was at the max on her coverage at the rehab center, so if she stays past Augusts 9th, she would have to pay out of pocket, for any more time staying at the rehab center.
Oh how I wish, that my brother was here to help me with this stuff. He is out in Seattle, WA, and I just feel overloaded with all of the decisions, and paperwork.
Ok, the other thing, besides finding out if she will have some type of extension, with going back into rehab, so she can recuperate from the fall, I am going to go and see her, so we can call the Long Term Health Insurance company to see what her coverage is.
Thanks for any help or ideas you may have,
Boo
Well , Mom trying to get out of bed by herself, finally caught up with her. I got a call at 2:15am, and saw it was the nursing home.
I immediately thought, OH NO...this is it..the phone call I've been dreading...
They said she fell trying to get up without calling for help, to go to the bathroom and fell, and cut her head.
they said it was a cut that needed stitches or staples, so they called an ambulance, to transport her to a local hospital. Actually, it's the one she had been in, for 5-6 months when she was getting over her 4 bouts of pneumonia, and C-Diff.
So, I haven't heard yet, but I'm assuming they will have her stay at least one night.
funny thing though...She was set up to be discharged from the Rehab center, next week, and the social worker was getting info about Assisted Living homes, since she is not safe living here with me, and would really need 24 hour care, of which I cannot provide, with my current physical disability and availability.
But what will happen if she DOES go into Assisted Living? she could fall there, and they don't have someone there to watch her all of the time. The next time she falls, god forbid...she may break a hip or something. I am at my wits end about now....
Now that she is going back in the hospital, although it may only be for one or 2 days....will her Hospital coverage thru Medicare, start over ??????
She was at the max on her coverage at the rehab center, so if she stays past Augusts 9th, she would have to pay out of pocket, for any more time staying at the rehab center.
Oh how I wish, that my brother was here to help me with this stuff. He is out in Seattle, WA, and I just feel overloaded with all of the decisions, and paperwork.
Ok, the other thing, besides finding out if she will have some type of extension, with going back into rehab, so she can recuperate from the fall, I am going to go and see her, so we can call the Long Term Health Insurance company to see what her coverage is.
Thanks for any help or ideas you may have,
Boo
My my own father's stay at a nursing home and many subsequent hospital visits, the Medicare started over after each hospital stay. Some else may know differently but that's what happened with my father.
I am so sorry for your mother. I hope she gets better soon, and that you are able to navigate the path of insurance.
Hugs
As to safety in assisted living..well unless you wrap her in bubble wrap and duct tape her to the bed she is a risk no matter where she is. The assisted living should have proximity monitors. This alerts the nurse on duty if she moves, doesn't move, or leaves her apartment. In many places they leave the apartment doors open so the staff can peek in all day long. It's really similar to rehab where the staff is there but not in your room. They can also use bed sensors that would tell them when mom gets up.
I know how hard it is to be waiting for that next call. Just do your best to stay calm. You cannot stop what is going to happen. You just do your best and then leave the rest to the professionals.
I am so sorry you are having to do this by yourself, hon I know the feeling and my brother is only 30 minutes away. Even with 24/7 monitoring she still could fall. Is she able to understand the risks involved in her falls?
My heart goes out to you in all this and please take care of you.
Love and Hugs
I can't walk or stand long, so I didn't go to the hospital, due to my severe spinal stenosis.
So, I have a phone call in for information about help for Veteran's wives...(although Mom and Dad were divorced), to see it she qualifies for any help with Assisted Living.
otherwise, if her LTC policy allows 80%, the facility I'm looking at, does accept LTC insurance, and that would allow Mom 80%, she'd only have to pay $720 out of pocket per month for her stay.
They do have alarms, and buttons and 16 hours a day nursing, 3 meals a day, Laundry one per week, medication monitoring, and private room.
We are calling tomorrow to get the information and coverage. I told my brother tonight, I need him to help me, if I have to make more phone calls .. HE's got to start pitching in, even though he is out west.
I am having gastric bypass surgery in 1 month, and have tons of my own things to handle. It's time he stepped up.
Mom's fine. She got up and went to the cafeteria with the others tonight for dinner, and feels fine. A bit tired and sore from the fall though.
Thanks for all of your concern!!
Hugs,
Boo
Hugs
Congrats on calling your brother. It is very hard to share care. It's easy to get into the habit of doing it all ourselves because it is easier than coordinating. Just make sure you have an easy way to communicate with him. Text messages are great or email and get used to sharing even the little details this way. And this way he can't say you didn't tell him something or didn't ask him to do something.
Are there a number of nights/? ( days a person must wait between being discharged and readmitted to hospital before the 3 night stay for assisted living aspect?? )
I am hoping the social worker has helped you? Maybe they (social worker) can contact your brother to help? I mean, if you really want him to help then he needs to know. There are many things that can happen by phone, fax, computer. And maybe a planned visit.
Hang in there
P