My MIL went into the hospital a couple of months ago with heart issues. Doctor felt it was serious enough for her to need transplant. She came close to dying. Fortunately she didn't. They kept her in hospital for a while on a machine that was manually pumping her heart. Then they sent her to a rehab facility. Now the rehab facility is discharging her. Doctor put her on heart meds and is sending her on her way. This obviously leaves me stumped, because all of a sudden she doesn't need a transplant. More concerning is the fact that she is being discharged and cannot take care of herself. My husband is finding a hard time finding a facility that will take Humana. She has a small monthly income pension, so doesn't qualify for Medicaid. We have no idea what to do. We both work full time, and there is no way that she can be alone all day in her condition. Anybody have any suggestions on where we go from here? Thanks!
The one thing I have learned is if they want her out of the facility they will achieve it, insurance usually pays for 2 weeks & if they aren’t trying to help themselves they will kick them to the curb. My MIL just now finally started to try to do better & insurance was trying to send her home & the facility actually filed the appeal for her.
Good Luck
Push for admittance to a facility for further care. She cannot live alone.
Her health insurance has nothing to do with finding a facility. They usually do not pay for longterm care. If she has a small income, she should qualify for Medicaid. In my state the income cap is not a little more than $2300.
If your MIL cannot be alone this is late in the day to try to start discharge planning, but it is what it is. Who is the POA? Is there one? If not, it is time to take care of that as well.
If MIL cannot care for herself I would warn all NOT to let her come home with you helping and not to take her, above all, into your own home. You will never get her out of it, IMHO. Start with the fact there is no one to care for her in home, she cannot afford in home care (if she cannot), and she cannot come into the homes of family. Then begin for placement planning, assisted living, board and care, nursing home, whatever her needs are. Your Mom's assets, all of them including pension, will likely now automatically go to her caregiving facility, with medicaid picking up the slack when all assets are accounted for and being turned over, and are not enough to give her care. You may need a medicare planner to help negotiate all of this. Ask the Social Worker how to go about finding one.
I am sorry this is coming on the end of all this. I don't know her age, but transplant for heart and lungs is very difficult process with the need for someone with MIL 24/7 or at least the length of a year, so that likely is not in the future and I doubt it ever was.
You need advanced directives worked out with MIL as well, if she doesn't already have them, and you need to know her realistic goals and ideas should her condition progress and cause further debility.
My best to you. I wish you all good luck and good care. I am very surprised you have not already been contacted by Social Services.
Call a home care agency to see how much it will cost (out of pocket if not on Medicaid). This is usually $22-27 an hour because they take out takes and have to have workers comp insurance for their employees as well as general liability insurance. Another option is to try www.care.com and you can hire someone directly and decide how much you will pay for them. Call your church to see if they have a ministry that checks on people. Worse case is to get ADP or other video monitoring (Xfinity) so you can see she is okay throughout the day - think of a nanny cam.
Good luck!
I would definitely at least hire a CNA to check in on her throughout the day to make sure things are going smoothly and help her transition back home. Going from 24/seven nursing care to being responsible for yourself when you’re elderly, can be overwhelming.
she have the energy to shop for and prepare 3 meals a day, every day? This does not mean you can’t or won’t help support her it’s just that to get the support she actually needs now you have to be clear about what help you can’t sustain a month from now.
They should be having a regular meeting with her care team in rehab that includes your MIL and her family (you and DH for instance) and if they aren’t ask for one. This is where you can ask all the questions about what happened to the heart transplant (they may say you need to speak with cardiologist but they should have a good idea) what to expect for her recovery, what she should and shouldn’t do etc. and it’s where each representative that works with her at rehab (PT, OT, nursing, discharge coordinator…) will go over her accomplishments and what they are working on. She may be nearing the end of her Medicare coverage which is why they need to release her but that doesn’t mean they plan to release her home. These are all questions you, your DH and MIL should be asking and getting answers for. Don’t be shy and don’t let the rehab dictate everything! Good for you watching out for her, she is very lucky to have you both.
Everyone should qualify for Medicaid through Social Security. The threshold is less than $14,000 in 2022 - are you sure she doesn't qualify?
Please call/look them up online to determine what can be covered.
It may be time to start looking at assisted living facilities in your area. They run from simple to extravagant; but you and your husband should scout out the ones in your area. She needs more care than you can provide. Good luck!
What kind of facilities is he looking at?
When you say "Humana", do you mean Long Term Care insurance? Medicare and private insurance do not pay for Assisted Living or NursingvHomes.
Depending onyour state, Medicaid will pay for NH, maybe for Assisted Living.
It sounds like he needs to have a long talk with the Social Worker at the rehab where she is now to more clearly understand her needs, her resources and the timeline.
Medicare doesn't pay for long term care in a nursing home, only for rehab for 20 days or up to 100 days if the person qualifies for that length of time. Having a 'small monthly income pension' should not disqualify your MIL from getting Medicaid; please make an appointment with a Certified Elder Care attorney to discuss that matter in greater detail, that is your best bet.
Telling the discharge team that your MIL is an 'unsafe discharge' is also a good idea, so she's not released back home with nobody to care for her there. Refuse to accept her back home, basically.
Wishing you the best of luck with a tough situation. I hope it all works out.
DO NOT let your H bring her to your home even temporarily. Do NOT accept the Discharge Planner's promises to "find help." If H brings her home, she is no longer the rehab facility's responsibility. Did mil tell them that someone would be helping her at home?
Keep us updated.
If they send her home to her place in a cab, call 911 and send her back to the hospital.
Is your husband poa for finances and health?
Has HE talked to the doctor?
Has he consulted an eldercare attorney about Medicaid?
She can qualify for LTC Medicaid or nursing home if she medically needs it. She needs to spend down her assets (or private pay first) then she gets put on LTC Medicaid. See a elder attorney if desired or talk to a Medicaid specialist.