My grandma has been in rehab for around 3 weeks now. I think her hospital stay was around 1 week.
She went in for shortness of breath and swelling. This left her unable to walk. Her diagnosis was something with her liver. She is also requires a catheter.
Rehab plans to release her in a couple of days. She still is unable to walk and needs assistance. I don't think my mom can care for in this state. I asked to have my grandma's stay extended, but I was told she would have to transition to long term care if my mom could not take care of her. All she needs to be able to do is walk again. That is the main issue.
I'm worried she will have to be brought right back to the hospital. I don't want to subject her to that given the current issues with the virus.
Is there a way to get her time extended? Would calling her primary doctor or the doctor overseeing her in rehab help? I don't think they realize she was able to do so much prior to being hospitalized.
Tall to her physical therapist. Who is saying she is unable to walk? I have had an experience recently with a friend; he is telling everyone he can't walk, PT documents that he can walk 200 feet with a walker while supervised by staff. Yes, he can walk. He is anxious about it, but CAN walk. Find out what the reality is.
The fact that your mom can no longer care for her is not justification for more rehab. It IS justification for a transition to long term care.
They shut down the rehab around a week and half ago due to the corona virus. At that time, she could only get up and sit down. I checked with the nurse a few days ago and was told she was able to get out of bed and sit in the chair with assistance. She couldn't get back to her bed on her own.
Now comes the decision...can Mom care for Grandmom if she is not able to do for herself. If not, then LTC is ur next option. If Gmom can't afford to private pay, then Mom can apply for Medicaid.
They shut down the rehab around a week and half ago due to the corona virus. At that time, she could only get up and sit down. I checked with the nurse a few days ago and was told she was able to get out of bed and sit in the chair with assistance. She couldn't get back to her bed on her own.
Discharged criteria is that the necessary care is in place and the home is safe.
Support your mom, let her know it is ok for her to decide the care is more than she is able to provide. Offer to help mom find a place for grandma.
They did this before about 5 or 6 years ago. My mom felt like the doctors were blaming her for repeated visits to the hospital. They were trying to setup long term care. It turns out that it was a side effect to lasix that was causing her issues. My grandma went from being bed ridden to walking up the street in a couple of days.