As someone else said - MAKE SURE SHE IS NOT IN OBSERVATION STATUS. talk to the nurse - say please, I need you to confirm that my mom is not listed as in observation status. If she is in observation status while in the hospital medicare will not pay for rehab. Often sometimes even the doc or nurse dont think someone is listed in this status and they are. You want them to physically check it and confirm. Even when admitted they can still be in this status.

https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/info-2018/medicare-observation-rule-fd.html

Anonymous wrote:How old is she?

72

Agree that you need to talk to the hospital social worker and try to get her into a rehab facility. While she’s in rehab, you will learn more about her abilities and also have time to figure out next steps—like whether she can live alone, what kind of help she needs.

How old is she?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She had an MRI this AM that confirmed several small strokes. She was just admitted and the doctor said she must go to rehab for 4 weeks at least when he saw her an hour or so ago. I am feeling calmer now, like they are understanding how compromised she is more. Sadly she doesn’t know what month or year it is at this point but her physical body seems mostly unaffected. Heartbreaking. Thank you for your advice. —OP

Hang in there, OP. And know that sometimes when people have had a stroke, they develop a temper. I don't know if it is from frustration or something in the brain short-circuited but I have seen it multiple times. I've seen verbal and physical lashing out, as well as throwing things.

It entirely depends what part of the brain was affected.

Anonymous wrote:She had an MRI this AM that confirmed several small strokes. She was just admitted and the doctor said she must go to rehab for 4 weeks at least when he saw her an hour or so ago. I am feeling calmer now, like they are understanding how compromised she is more. Sadly she doesn’t know what month or year it is at this point but her physical body seems mostly unaffected. Heartbreaking. Thank you for your advice. —OP

Hang in there, OP. And know that sometimes when people have had a stroke, they develop a temper. I don't know if it is from frustration or something in the brain short-circuited but I have seen it multiple times. I've seen verbal and physical lashing out, as well as throwing things.

She had an MRI this AM that confirmed several small strokes. She was just admitted and the doctor said she must go to rehab for 4 weeks at least when he saw her an hour or so ago. I am feeling calmer now, like they are understanding how compromised she is more. Sadly she doesn’t know what month or year it is at this point but her physical body seems mostly unaffected. Heartbreaking. Thank you for your advice. —OP

Anonymous wrote:Agree about talking to the social worker. But if she doesn’t leave be prepared for a large bill. Insurance doesn’t necessarily pay just because there isn’t a safe discharge. This will be complicated by the fact that there wasn’t even an admission of you’re still with ER docs and she hasn’t seen a neurologist.

Also without a 3 day qualifying hospital stay Medicare doesn’t cover acute rehab or subacute care so you will need resources to pay for the care.

What I’m saying is you need the social worker stat because navigating this is going to depend on a lot of personal details that you aren’t likely to want to share here.

good point--for Medicare, getting her admitted (not observation status!) may make a big difference and that's something to talk about with the social worker.

Make sure she is on meds so that she doesn’t have another stroke of mini strokes.

Did she do the hyperbaric oxygen chamber? She should. Cna you move her to a different hospital?

Agree about talking to the social worker. But if she doesn’t leave be prepared for a large bill. Insurance doesn’t necessarily pay just because there isn’t a safe discharge. This will be complicated by the fact that there wasn’t even an admission of you’re still with ER docs and she hasn’t seen a neurologist.

Also without a 3 day qualifying hospital stay Medicare doesn’t cover acute rehab or subacute care so you will need resources to pay for the care.

What I’m saying is you need the social worker stat because navigating this is going to depend on a lot of personal details that you aren’t likely to want to share here.

Anonymous wrote:Tell the hospital that she won’t be safe in your home and you’re unable to care for her. Ask to speak to the hospital social worker and see if they can get her into a rehab program. My mom spent last Christmas in the hospital and new years and several weeks after in rehab after a fall.

Unfortunately it’s up to you to push and advocate for her. And I’m so sorry you’re going through this.

I'm so sorry. Definitely speak to the hospital social worker BEFORE your mom is discharged. They should be able to walk you through the options, including transport to rehab AND what you might need or be eligible for in terms of home care and supplies.

yes, try to get her into rehab near you. She may not be going home for a while if ever so figure out what you need to do about wherever she's living (mail forwarding order, is there someone there who can throw out perishables in her fridge and deal with any plants/pets/etc.?). Does she have any insurance that can pay for caregivers if you bring her to your house eventually? Or while she's in rehab does it make sense to see if there's an independent or assisted living place near you that she can try?

She may improve quickly once she's out of the hospital and getting good sleep. She may not. She may have more strokes, or not. It's really hard to say only a day or two in. There is a Stroke Comeback Center in Vienna and Rockville and I know people have found it helpful after the hospital/rehab portion of stroke recovery.

I'm sorry, OP. I hope your mom is doing better soon.

Tell the hospital that she won’t be safe in your home and you’re unable to care for her. Ask to speak to the hospital social worker and see if they can get her into a rehab program. My mom spent last Christmas in the hospital and new years and several weeks after in rehab after a fall.

Unfortunately it’s up to you to push and advocate for her. And I’m so sorry you’re going through this.

The ER doc is profoundly unhelpful and just wants to send her home with me. Shouldn’t she see a neurologist? Go to rehab to have the best chance of the most recovery? I am not prepared to have her live with me and not be able to care for herself. She lives in another state and this happened when she was visiting me for the holidays, so she doesn’t have doctors or anything here. The hospital assumes I can just take her home like this but I don’t see how. I am lost.