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#21
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Update on My Mom (OT)
On Nov 6, 12:02*pm, "jmcquown" wrote:
They moved to the physical therapy/rehab unit. *Today they are doing a complete evaluation to determine what types of PT she needs, how much she can tolerate (trust me, won't be much), whether they need to include occupational therapy, etc. This is, I suppose, a good thing. *The bad thing is visiting hours in this unit don't start until 4PM! *The nurse said she'll be in the gym or working with a therapist during "normal" hours. *Well this sucks. *I suffer from night blindness. *I never drive at night. *With the stupid time change it gets dark so much earlier now! *It's going to be very difficult for me to be able to visit her! *My vision for driving at night isn't that bad if the roads are well lit. *Of course, there are no street lights for nearly the entire 20 mile drive to/from the hospital. *Heck, there aren't even any businesses with lit parking lots along the majority of the drive. The neighbor (with the cats) would be happy to drive me. *But she works Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays and doesn't get home until 7PM. *Getting a taxi cab way the heck out here is nearly impossible. *They guy who worked on the security gate, who drove me to and from the airport a few times to earn a few extra $$'s, *moved 100 miles away. *They certainly aren't making it easy for me to go visit her. I can talk with her on the phone, of course, but it's not quite the same thing as getting a hug from her daughter. *Especially since they keep bouncing her from floor to floor, room to room. *She doesn't know where she is half the time because they keep moving her all around. *Poor thing Jill Having been in a rehab facility (at age 35) for a torn up knee, I can tell you that if you explain the night blindness they will in all probability help find a time that suits you and them. There are things in therapy that you can help with, most specifically encouragement - something I did with my father when he was in the nursing home and I came when they had him down for physical therapy. He was always willing to perform better for me than a therapist, so he got more done with me encouraging "just a few more minutes" or "can you do three more". It will also give you a better idea of how her strength and balance are coming along as well as what they are doing there to help her. Also from experience, I can tell you she will not be in therapy all those hours. She will be in therapy two to four hours a day depending on whether the decide to do one or two sessions a day of PT and OT. When I was in there, I had only an hour a day of each and because I was so strong willed and had my own idea of how to do things and enough mentally to insist that my needs be met at what I wanted, I got what I wanted and my therapies were scheduled for the afternoon, one right after the other. They can schedule your mother's therapies so you can come visit. I promise. Also, what Sherry said is right about Medicare days. They do renew and outpatient days are different from inpatient days. Outpatient days are not limited. I have had an incredible amount of PT since I tore my knee up (for various things) and limited PT was never an obstacle. Hope this helps. |
#22
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Update on My Mom (OT)
"Bridget" wrote in message
... On Nov 6, 12:02 pm, "jmcquown" wrote: They moved to the physical therapy/rehab unit. Today they are doing a complete evaluation to determine what types of PT she needs, how much she can tolerate (trust me, won't be much), whether they need to include occupational therapy, etc. This is, I suppose, a good thing. The bad thing is visiting hours in this unit don't start until 4PM! The nurse said she'll be in the gym or working with a therapist during "normal" hours. Well this sucks. I suffer from night blindness. I never drive at night. With the stupid time change it gets dark so much earlier now! It's going to be very difficult for me to be able to visit her! My vision for driving at night isn't that bad if the roads are well lit. Of course, there are no street lights for nearly the entire 20 mile drive to/from the hospital. Heck, there aren't even any businesses with lit parking lots along the majority of the drive. The neighbor (with the cats) would be happy to drive me. But she works Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays and doesn't get home until 7PM. Getting a taxi cab way the heck out here is nearly impossible. They guy who worked on the security gate, who drove me to and from the airport a few times to earn a few extra $$'s, moved 100 miles away. They certainly aren't making it easy for me to go visit her. I can talk with her on the phone, of course, but it's not quite the same thing as getting a hug from her daughter. Especially since they keep bouncing her from floor to floor, room to room. She doesn't know where she is half the time because they keep moving her all around. Poor thing Jill Having been in a rehab facility (at age 35) for a torn up knee, I can tell you that if you explain the night blindness they will in all probability help find a time that suits you and them. There are things in therapy that you can help with, most specifically encouragement - something I did with my father when he was in the nursing home and I came when they had him down for physical therapy. He was always willing to perform better for me than a therapist, so he got more done with me encouraging "just a few more minutes" or "can you do three more". It will also give you a better idea of how her strength and balance are coming along as well as what they are doing there to help her. ================================================= All true, and since Jill is going to be her main care-giver it might be a good idea to learn some of the PT she may have to continue at home. Hugs, CatNipped |
#23
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Update on My Mom (OT)
On Nov 7, 3:52*am, Lorraine wrote:
On Thu, 6 Nov 2008 14:57:04 -0800 (PST), Sherry wrote: Before I'd worry that the hospital is milking medicare, I'd consider how important PT (or OT) is. It's all about *preventing further disability* as much as anything else. Old folks atrophy very quickly. IIRC, Medicare paid for 100 days of "rehab" (either in the hospital, or in a skilled nursing unit). After that, if the patient has 60 days of wellness before being hospitalized again for a different problem, the 100 days starts over. Then again, some patients recover much better at home. I am sure that visiting home-health-care therapists are also paid to some degree by Medicare. Of course, I didn't mean to pass up on needed therapy simply based on cost. However, it would be prudent to make sure the money is spent wisely when it is limited. *We heard this from several directions when Mom was ill including from the hospital social worker. *However, since Mom never made it to therapy of any kind, and didn't even get close enough for us to get into the details, *it definitely sounds like you have had more experience than I in this area. I don't remember ever hearing 100 days, so we may be talking about something different anyway. That's not to say it wasn't thrown out there. Given it was probably the most horrific month of my life, the details were lost on me. Ignore me, Jill. I didn't mean to make things more complicated. *Sending you and your mother megapurrs hoping to make it all easier. L. Oh, I knew you didn't mean that, Lorraine. I lived and breathed hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, rehab, physical therapy, Medicare, etc.etc. for over ten months with Dad. He also fell in the hospital and broke his hip, among various other complications. As you know, it's a horrible ordeal for the family and sometimes just comprehending Medicare is a nightmare. I never had any facility try to limit visiting hours though, so I don't have any experience with that. Bridget is right that the facility *should* work with Jill about a time that she can stay. Family member support is the most important therapy of all. One step-down rehab unit actually had a cot in the room where family members could stay. |
#24
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Update on My Mom (OT)
"Suz" wrote in message ... On Nov 6, 5:57�pm, Sherry wrote: On Nov 6, 2:45�pm, Lorraine wrote: On Thu, 6 Nov 2008 11:59:08 -0800 (PST), Sherry wrote: Lori, I think part of the purpose of occupational therapy is to maintain upper body strength, and hand coordination in the event the patient is confined to a wheelchair, even an electric one. Or at least that's the impression I got when Dad had it. It's also a money maker for the facility. �Don't let them stretch it out needlessly. �You might want to ask what are their specific goals. �It's my understanding (and my understanding is shaky), that Medicare pays for 30 days, but that's like in a lifetime, year, or something. �Some rehab facilities tend to take the entire 30 days if the days are available regardless of whether the patient really needs all thirty. We thought it was going to be an issue with Mom before we found out how bad she really was at the time, but I was letting my sister handle all of that since she works in a hospital billing department. That's why I don't have more than a basic understanding. L. Before I'd worry that the hospital is milking medicare, I'd consider how important PT (or OT) is. It's all about *preventing further disability* as much as anything else. Old folks atrophy very quickly. IIRC, Medicare paid for 100 days of "rehab" (either in the hospital, or in a skilled nursing unit). After that, if the patient has 60 days of wellness before being hospitalized again for a different problem, the 100 days starts over. Then again, some patients recover much better at home. I am sure that visiting home-health-care therapists are also paid to some degree by Medicare. Sherry- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - You're correct Sherry, this is why most nursing homes have rehab units. You get 100 or so days of rehab after a hospital stay. They get a higher rate plus fees. The hospital might have a similar facility. suz&Spicey It also depends on whether the therapist can certify that "progress" is being made. Otherwise, Medicare will only pay for 20 (or possibly it's 21) days of skilled nursing care after a minimum of 3 days in the hospital. And the patient must be transferred directly from the hospital to the nursing home/rehab center. My mother could not be certified as making progress because of her loss of cognitive skills. She would not be able to remember the previous day's instructions on the following day. In a case like Jill's mother, where that is not a problem, I think Medicare will pay for up to 100 days. MaryL |
#25
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Update on My Mom (OT)
Jill,
I'd speak with her therapists and explain your night driving issues - maybe you could work something out like going to visit her for breakfast or lunch. Christine "jmcquown" wrote in message ... They moved to the physical therapy/rehab unit. Today they are doing a complete evaluation to determine what types of PT she needs, how much she can tolerate (trust me, won't be much), whether they need to include occupational therapy, etc. This is, I suppose, a good thing. The bad thing is visiting hours in this unit don't start until 4PM! The nurse said she'll be in the gym or working with a therapist during "normal" hours. Well this sucks. I suffer from night blindness. I never drive at night. With the stupid time change it gets dark so much earlier now! It's going to be very difficult for me to be able to visit her! My vision for driving at night isn't that bad if the roads are well lit. Of course, there are no street lights for nearly the entire 20 mile drive to/from the hospital. Heck, there aren't even any businesses with lit parking lots along the majority of the drive. The neighbor (with the cats) would be happy to drive me. But she works Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays and doesn't get home until 7PM. Getting a taxi cab way the heck out here is nearly impossible. They guy who worked on the security gate, who drove me to and from the airport a few times to earn a few extra $$'s, moved 100 miles away. They certainly aren't making it easy for me to go visit her. I can talk with her on the phone, of course, but it's not quite the same thing as getting a hug from her daughter. Especially since they keep bouncing her from floor to floor, room to room. She doesn't know where she is half the time because they keep moving her all around. Poor thing Jill |
#26
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Update on My Mom (OT)
On Thu, 6 Nov 2008 12:07:25 -0600, "CatNipped"
wrote: Occupational therapy? OT includes things like shoe tying, which ain't easy with a bum hip. Bud |
#27
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Update on My Mom (OT)
"jmcquown" wrote in message ... Granby wrote: FWIW you should talk to the Doctor or, whomever is in charge of her case and see what specific goals they have for her. If she is to be returned home, you could ask to be there for her sessions so you could learn what to do to help her. Of course I'll be talking with them. And I already had an in-home physical therapist coming in twice a week having her do exercises to help with her with overall strength even before she went into the hospital. I fully intend to bring her back home. Jill {{{{{{{{{{Jill and Persia}}}}}}}}}} It is hard, but you will do just fine taking care of your mom. We received our Medicare guide the other day. It is pretty basic and about an inch thick. So much to try to understand. Pam S. |
#28
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Update on My Mom (OT)
William Hamblen wrote:
On Thu, 6 Nov 2008 12:07:25 -0600, "CatNipped" wrote: Occupational therapy? OT includes things like shoe tying, which ain't easy with a bum hip. Bud Good thing she hasn't worn shoes in 6 months LOL Jill |
#29
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Eyeglasses (WAS Update on My Mom (OT)
hopitus wrote:
On Nov 7, 5:08 am, "jmcquown" wrote: Cheryl wrote: "jmcquown" wrote in message ... The bad thing is visiting hours in this unit don't start until 4PM! The nurse said she'll be in the gym or working with a therapist during "normal" hours. Well this sucks. I suffer from night blindness. I never drive at night. Jill, do you wear glasses? I've been wearing glasses since I was 12 (Got braces at the same time, don't think that didn't suck!) And my current prescription is fine, I just had my eyes checked a few months ago. I understand they make special glasses for night blindness but they aren't cheap. Jill You may know this already. If you have an older pair of glasses you always liked the frames of (not to mention that they may indeed be in haute couture again) but the Rx lenses in them are way past any good to your eyesight, you can take them and have anti-glare (it is a coating, not a Rx) lenses in your current Rx put in that frame. Commercial places we've all heard of don't like to do this....but they will if you are firm. I have had better luck doing this with my HOM provider of glasses; who are not so hot on selling you a new, expensive, designer frame.... I've been using the same eyeglass frame for nearly 4 years. I don't require "designer" frames. I don't give a crap what some celeb is wearing, I just want to be able to see. And yes, I've had that anti-glare coatings... to me that is "designer" because it didn't help a bit but cost me extra money. For no reason. The last eye doctor *insisted* because I was over 40 I had to have bifocals. I told him NO but he insisted. I take my glasses off to read a book or a restaurant menu (for example). I've always done that. My vision is such that I don't need reading glasses (as in reading a book). I need them for distance. I need glasses to read the computer screen or watch TV, sure. He insisted I needed bi-focals. Waste of money. I still take my glasses off to read up close. Jill |
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