Friday, February 11, 2011

What next?

My brother was with Mom at noon today so I could go have lunch with our Mardi Gras krewe's Queen and see the decorations for the ball. It is tonight and the first one I have missed since moving to Louisiana 5 years ago. The ball room was just beautiful and I got a little teary eyed thinking about not getting to go this year. While my brother was there, the social worker told him that Mom's 100 days will be up on March 5th and she wanted to know what our plans are. Now I am getting panicky wondering how we are going to do this. We will take her to her home and I plan to stay with her as much as possible. I guess I will just take it one day at a time and do what I have to do.

Hope all my fellow Mardi Gras pals are having fun out there tonight!

8 comments:

Dianne said...

Wouldn't she be eligible for home care?

Sandy said...

Home Health...yes, but she still has very limited use of her right hand, which means she cannot stand up by herself. She is going to need round
the clock care until she gets to a point where she can stand up and walk a few steps by herself. We will see about getting one of those motorized chairs, but I'm not sure she has the mental capacity to use one of those yet. Today is 16 weeks post stroke and many people have told me that it takes up to a year to recover some of the use. I am going to get an internet connection and wifi at her house and basically stay with her. My brother says I can't do that and we will need to get sitters, but sitters are $10 an hour and I am not willing to spend my inheritance on something I can do most of the time. We will get sitters some times, but not all the time. That would be $240 per day. Wouldn't take long to blow through a large sum that way.

Anonymous said...

Did the rehab facility have any suggestions?
We were able to bring dad home to his and mom's house, she went back to work and since I wasn't working , I was his daytime caregiver, home health care came in to do rehab,as long as progress is being at home ,medicare and insurance covered. A nurse(who is in contact with a doctor) was also included in home health about once a week or when you need them , they are on call 24hrs a day.
Talk to the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) or Home Health Care in your area...they can tell you what Medicare will cover.
She is getting social security, I am assuming, you may want to get her on Social Security Disability, it will be a little more money , if her doctors think she will qualify for being disabled. If so , she may also be able to get a motorized wheelchair for little or no money, if she isn't very ambulatory. It's great for taking 'walks' outside or working in the garden with you, she can be out and get around, without worry of falling. She will need a ramp to get out of the house , unless it has ground access already.
There are several companies out there....we used 'Hoveround' they help you do all the paperwork and get what is needed to qualify. Or you could look for a good used one in the local paper.
You may be able to get someone to live with her or come in for most of the day to stay with her or just at night. There are folks out there that will do that. Room and board could be part of the deal or all monetary. When I think of more I will comment again....you know me...well, you don't , but you are getting to know me, aren't you? Beth

Anonymous said...

Our local health campus/nursing home/assisted living offers adult day care and respite care for when you just HAVE to be away or rest. Beth
I am pretty sure the rehab told you that you really can't do it by yourself 24/7. It wouldn't be good for either of you.

Anonymous said...

Is she swallowing okay and able to eat? How is her talking? Do you think she is just having trouble coming up with the words mentally for things or is it physical in her throat? Is the vital stim helping? I have heard GREAT things about it. It works rather quickly.
Does she seem to have her wit and mind about her?
Dad couldn't talk much but he understood everything we would discuss. Had very little trouble using the electric wheelchair....it had like a joystick control which was fairly easy once you used it a bit....even for me getting used to it took a few tries.
You'd be surprised how much just watching television will help stimulate their minds.
What I am leading up to , is get every kind of help you can for her at the rehab that they can give before they release her. Make sure they have given everything a try with her.
And watch everything they do so you can replicate it at home.
Beth

Dianne said...

I saw one of those hoveround wheelchairs at the consignment place here in Ogden for less than $700. Maybe check ebay or consignment stores in your area.

Anonymous said...

Make sure the controls are on the side she is able to use ....it can be switched on some of them , but not all of them. It will help her sense of being able to do for herself and will help you with not having to do all the pushing and lifting a regular wheelchair entails.
Mom gave dad's to the Home Health Team to let someone else use that couldn't afford it.
We also have a church here that has home health aides (durable goods) of all kinds that they will let you use for a donation of your choosing.
The rehab facility would probably know about a lot of these kinds of things if you ask.
If you trust some of the staff maybe they would have suggestions if you need to bring someone in to stay with your mom from time to time. Beth

Anonymous said...

Gee, wasn't it luck she had that awful government health care.