I don't know how caregivers do it

[niki]

I would call his insurance company and ask about getting a nurse or home health aide to assist. The doctor might be able to help get this going.

[WOT?*]

My dad's HHA was covered by insurance (VA and Medicare) when his Alzheimer's started showing and his wife wasn't able to fully care for him.

If you don't need nursing, you can get a personal care assistant for a couple hours per day for something like $10/hr. That's about what they paid OOP when insurance didn't cover it. She wasn't needed for medical care, just assistance with cleaning up, taking care of him, moving him, feeding him, etc. They provide the necessary services to give the family a break. Even though your grandpa doesn't need the extended services that mine did, they do a lot to provide the necessary services to give the family a break from shouldering all the responsibilities. 

The VA should hopefully cover a wheelchair or something that you can use to help transport. Or check with a medical supply company or the hospital to see how much something like that would cost as a short term rental. There

With him currently released from the hospital I don't think the social worker will be able to help, but she might come up with some ideas.

I'm sorry about your grandpa. I hope he recovers quickly and completely.

[2doxies]

My mom had to take care of my dad at home for the last few weeks of his life and she nearly killed herself in the process. That, in addition to his death, visibly aged her. I have no idea how people do it long term.

[Aquatica]

I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather and hope he recovers soon.

Did he go to the VA when he had his accident? If so, I'm side eyeing them for not sending him home with an equipment (eg a walker). I've had a lot of issues with one of the VAs trying to send my dad home with no equipment after his back surgery (a toilet aid to help him wipe since he couldn't turn and other needed items).

[pugz]

Acute rehab facilities can admit from the home or the ER if he has a qualifying diagnosis and medicare usually covers 14-21 days. A skilled rehab facility (nursing home) won't be covered without 3 midnights in the hospital. Home health won't do much for him until he is walking again

[Aquatica]

Feb 5, 2016 18:48:14 GMT -5 @mx said:

No the local ER. We called 911 because he hit his head and was bleeding pretty good. I was worried about a head/neck injury. We tried to get the hospital to rent us a wheelchair when they sent us home because where do you get a wheelchair at 3 am?? But they said they don't rent them.

That's so odd that he'd be discharged without the proper equipment or a prescription for one at least.

[Deleted]

Feb 5, 2016 18:48:14 GMT -5 @mx said:

Feb 5, 2016 18:42:05 GMT -5 Aquatica said:

I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather and hope he recovers soon.

Did he go to the VA when he had his accident? If so, I'm side eyeing them for not sending him home with an equipment (eg a walker). I've had a lot of issues with one of the VAs trying to send my dad home with no equipment after his back surgery (a toilet aid to help him wipe since he couldn't turn and other needed items).

No the local ER. We called 911 because he hit his head and was bleeding pretty good. I was worried about a head/neck injury. We tried to get the hospital to rent us a wheelchair when they sent us home because where do you get a wheelchair at 3 am?? But they said they don't rent them.

I would call back to the hospital tomorrow or on Monday and ask for a social worker or case management. Or go to the hospital if it's not too far.

Getting home health care, equipment, etc is unfortunately rather complicated and they can give you suggestions even though he has been discharged. There are certain things that must happen for a patient to qualify for certain things. Depending on who his PCP is, the pcp might not be the best person to help navigate the system either.

Sorry that your visit hasn't turned out too well. Caregivers definitely have a really rough job and I often feel sorry for them. 

[Saudade]

Was there a hospital social worker that can help you navigate this? I'm surprised that wasn't addressed before discharging him. Good luck. I just ended a stint working in a nursing. It's difficult work and shitty pay, which most people don't understand until they actually need care. It's super hard on families too.

Good luck.

[Saudade]

If this had happened here, the hospital would have kept the patient until the next day for evaluation and discharge work. They would not have sent the patient home. But we live in a very rural area.

[MixedBerryJam]

Feb 5, 2016 18:48:14 GMT -5 @mx said:

Feb 5, 2016 18:42:05 GMT -5 Aquatica said:

I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather and hope he recovers soon.

Did he go to the VA when he had his accident? If so, I'm side eyeing them for not sending him home with an equipment (eg a walker). I've had a lot of issues with one of the VAs trying to send my dad home with no equipment after his back surgery (a toilet aid to help him wipe since he couldn't turn and other needed items).

No the local ER. We called 911 because he hit his head and was bleeding pretty good. I was worried about a head/neck injury. We tried to get the hospital to rent us a wheelchair when they sent us home because where do you get a wheelchair at 3 am?? But they said they don't rent them.

Try his town's Council on Aging or whatever they call it. My mom got a wheelchair from them for as long as she needed it, along with a few other small but helpful items, and it's probably useful for them to have your GFIL on their radar, since he's 90-something and living alone. Also, Medicare will provide lots of those items as long as the doctor orders them but it may take a couple of weeks to get the paperwork all processed. Head wounds bleed like a sonofabitch, even when they're not bad enough to cause real damage. My mom's house looked like CSI:MA when she fell the first time. Hope he heals quickly!

[twotrue]

He's lucky that not only were you there, but that you and your H are the type that are going to navigate the crazy care system and advocate to get him whatever he needs.

[5thofjuly]

Is there a chance that his leg is broken?

I agree with you- we're young(ish) and relatively healthy and caring for my grandfather as respite for my parents took so much out of us. I have no idea how they managed to do it.

[5thofjuly]

Feb 5, 2016 21:19:07 GMT -5 @mx said:

Feb 5, 2016 21:13:13 GMT -5 5thofjuly said:

Is there a chance that his leg is broken?

I agree with you- we're young(ish) and relatively healthy and caring for my grandfather as respite for my parents took so much out of us. I have no idea how they managed to do it.

They x rayed (which keeps autocorrecting to x-rated!!) the leg. The doctor said he didn't see anything, by because he was complaining so much of the pain the doctor went back to the radiology tech and asked for their expert opinion as well. They both said they couldn't see anything.

Glad to hear it- hopefully his pain subsides soon. As sucky as this is, maybe some tiny good nugget will come from it? 


POOF

I'm sure that almost every caregiver has a similar story- in my mind, those moments have to be what keeps them going. 

[5thofjuly]

That's exactly it- a mix of dark humor and pure love and a healthy dose of alcohol. You've got it nailed. May we all be so lucky when our times come

[forreals]

I'm sorry, @mx.
5thofjuly, your story had be in tears.

I went to a training on dementia last week and the stories from the caregivers were looking me. 93 year old wives caregiving for 96 year old men. I can't imagine at all how they are doing it.
Apparently, caregivers often end up dying earlier/being sicker than the people for whom they are caring because of all the stress and putting their needs second.