My mother fell and hit her head at her memory care facility. They called me to tell me, but I was over four hours away. I called my uncle and he said he would go down first thing in the morning, but ended up going at midnight since he was so worried he couldn't sleep. The hospital had him take her back to her facility. What would have happened had my uncle not been available to do that? Since she wasn't admitted, I am told we will have to personally pay for the ambulance, not her insurance. Anyone know about this?
Someone I know had their Grandma left in a wheelchair outside the hospital & told a taxi was called. Except they forgot. Midnight - winter too. She had to yell to a passing 'youth' (as she called him) to get help. Made the news.
I agree, before she is sent out request that u be called. In 4 months my Mom fell 4x at the AL and everytime they called me aft she was taken. She broke nothing. So I told them I was to be called and I would determine if she should go by the info they gave me. Of course she is going to be in some pain (and for someone suffering from Dementia it always seems worse). Aren't u when u fall. I told them to let her get thru the pain and then evaluate. In the next 4 months she was there no ER visit.
In those 4 ER visits Mom was not charged. I don't think ur Mom should have been either. Even though you have paid the bill, I would wonder how the ride was billed. If they say transport I would question that. It was an emergency especially if the head was involved. My Mom did have a balance due but ambulance services in my town are paid by our taxes. So they can only receive what Medicare pays. The balance has to be washed off.
Awhile back my mother fell outside her AL facility. She was using her walker and was with my daughter. Personally I feel my daughter was partially responsible as she had her young baby with her and was not staying close enough to her. There was also a section of uneven payment but anyway that is bridge under the water. She received stitches in her hand. She was badly bruised but nothing else was hurt that required treatment. She was transferred to a hospital. Eventually I had to pay over $400 for the ambulance as no party would cover it. She was not admitted but sent back to AL with further visits to a hand specialist.
So cab, rideshare, hospital van, etc would be some of the ways your Mom would have got home. In my brother's case there is a van that is part of the services in his assisted living. Rides on scheduled basis to hospital and doctor, to KMart and to Shopping Centers and such are free, and van ride needed to someplace other (say you want to go to the post office can be as high as about 26.00 added to your bill. A cab in his town would typically be about 15.00 each way, so not too out of line. There is also a van service called "Sunline" for the disabled in his city, free to those who qualify.
It's a good question to run by her facility now. Would they pick her up for a fee? Hospitals charge by hours of stay so they won't keep someone longer than they need to. They charge under observation, after ER time is up. Then usually goes to admission.
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