For some time, I pondered over the idea of having someone else line up some form of PT for my mom since she won't do it herself and I don't have the courage to do it on my own. She thought about lining it up a few years back, but instead of contacting the family doctor, she called the doctor who did her lumpectomy. That doctor didn't have the ability to line it up and after that, she basically gave up. She thought about doing PT, but Covid forced her to wait.
Can such a thing be done or is it against the law to do that and only PT can be lined up if my mom agrees to it?
It can be done with her POA is Mom is not competent.
Mom's regular doctor can do this with Mom. She can visit and say there are some balance, strength issues she would like PT to address and would like an "assessment" and treatment if needed.
As a nurse I believe in PT more than doctors for many many issues, and some of them even diagnostic. Doctors will go through an enormous amount of testing including MRIs to diagnose a neck muscle in spasm causing constant headaches; PT will have that one one- and -done often on first visit.
Encourage Mom to ask her doctor for an assessment and treatment. Assure her she will come to LOVE her PT folks. They improved my brother's balance issues enormously.
Good luck!
Is it because she'll cry?
Did she give you everything you demanded as a child?
Your last post u talked about needing to help Mom get her legs up on the bed so I will assume you live with her. Do you go with her to Dr visits. I suggest you call her Dr and ask for an appt for just discussing PT/OT. Tell her the day before she has an appt. If u usually don't go in with her, you can write a note and ask the receptionist to see that the Dr. reads it before examining your Mom. Make it short and typed in 14 font if you can. List what she cannot or will not do for herself and ask if PT can be ordered in home.
PT will come to the home and evaluate and admit her. She has to be willing to do the work and exercises given for when PT is not there. It may take a while to get her legs strengthened after so many years. You should do nothing for her she can't do herself. She is going to want to do this. Medicare will pay their share and her secondary hopefully picking up the balance.
If not, you could still get exercise and PT for her, but it would be out-of-pocket, and expensive.
Others have offered good advice; you need to get a doctor's signature and referral to PT. But I doubt any doctor would authorize PT w/o an exam.
You would have a choice though as to which facility provides the PT. I've used hospital affiliated ones as well as one private one, which I would never use again. Hospital affiliated PT sources are to me the best, at least the ones I've used have been. The equipment is diversified, generally the machines are based far enough apart that you can work w/o being crowded by someone else, the therapists are professional, and you generally get the same therapist for the entire length of PT.
The one commercial one was recommended by an arm doctor as he had worked there prior to becoming a doctor. It was crowded, cramped, filled with people, including some men who had to brag and show off their prowess. I had a different therapist every time; there was no consistency, nor was there consistency in the exercises they prescribed.
And it was noisy. I don't like working out while football or other sports games are being broadcast. That's NOT conducive to relaxation and concentration, unless you love football.
Good luck on getting help for your mother.
Once it is ordered she will have to make the appointment. But I have had the PT office call me after the order was places to schedule an appointment, they made the call to me.
What you could do is right after the appointment you could say to mom, lets call right now and see when they have an opening. Do that as you are making the call.