Thursday, December 10, 2009

Going to Rehab

Rehabilitation from a stroke involves Physical Therapy- big movement like walking, Occupational Therapy- finer movements like writing and tying your shoes, medical management, to keep the patient stable, and good old fashioned nursing care- bathing, medications, monitoring…

Medicare pays for rehab as long as a patient is progressing and working on getting better. When they have gotten back as much as can be gotten back, they either return to home or go to a nursing home. Returning home can mean being able to live independently again, or having assistance in the home to help you do what you can’t do yourself. If neither are possible, a nursing home placement can be required. Medicare does not pay for nursing home care, or long term care.

Medicaid does pay for it, but in Dad’s case, his home would need to be sold first, and any money left after paying his debts would need to be used to pay for the nursing home until he has so little left that he qualifies for Medicaid. Not an attractive option…

I hope we can have him at home. If not his own, I could have him here. I have a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room all on one level, there are only two small steps to get into the house, and a ramp could easily be placed over them. It would be hard, but not impossible.

Both Dee and Eddie are in walk up apartments. Ellen has stairs, too few rooms and enough on her plate.

I don’t know how Dad would adjust to Ohio. Most of his family and all of his friends are in NYC.

Waiting and thinking about all the possible choices.

His spirits are better, I am told. He looks good, I am told…We have to wait and see. He will be in the hospital for about a week. Then he will go to Rehab. And we need to wait and see after that. I am not good at waiting.

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