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He had open heart and a pacemaker put in. He is 85, so after two weeks in the hospital he was too weak to come home. He was transferred to a rehab facility in a nursing home to get strong enough to walk with a walker. The hospital had already started him on therapy and up on a walker with assistance. I was told he would get two fifteen-minute sessions of therapy a day at this rehab facility. First day he got about 10 minutes second day 5 minutes third day 5 minutes fourth and fifth none day six about 10 minutes how will he ever get his strength back when they have him sitting in a wheelchair 23 plus hours a day. He has gone backwards at this place, like I said. Hospital therapy already had him started on a walker now these people have him wheelchair bound. My question is can I bring him home and have home health care or does he have to be released by his doctor or Medicare? I have had meeting after meeting with the head of therapy all I get is lies and more lies.

He is not resisting therapy just the opposite he has begged them every day to work with him. He can get up from the wheelchair and stand on his own. I called Medicare and they told me to get them to give me a detailed report of each day he has been there and the amount of therapy he received each day. When I asked for it, they said well our report has a lot of stuff written on it so you probably would not understand it. I said well, all you have to do is just write down each day and beside it write the amount of time he spent in therapy and what he did that day. .I have yet to see a report but it's quite amazing this morning they spent 30 minutes with him walking him up and down the hall with the walker doing leg exercises and other exercises. If they would have started this a week ago, he would be well on his way to being self-sufficient again. I was told by someone that worked at this facility that they hold back therapy a lot with patients so that when their 20 day Medicare period is up they can report to Medicare that the patient needs more therapy thus they need to stay at their facility longer. Hopefully by me calling their bluff they will now do what is right and give him the therapy Medicare and my supplement are paying for. Thanks for everybody's input.
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Reply to Dee1951
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MidwestOT Jul 19, 2024
Good for you for being the advocate your husband needed. I would imagine that contacting Medicare and letting the facility know was the push they needed. How sad that you had to do that, but I’m glad that you did. Keep in regular contact with his therapists and let them know what they need to be working on in order to get him home. Best wishes to you and your husband.
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It sounds like he’s in a skilled nursing facility and would not likely qualify for a rehab facility since he would need to be able to tolerate three hours of therapy daily. If you want to take him home, it would be best to have the doctor on board to order home health services. Do you have someone to provide 24 hour care, because that is likely what is going to be needed for him to be considered a safe discharge. If you’ve done any reading on this board, you know that is a whole different(and difficult) ballgame.

As others have said, more information would be helpful. Is it possible he’s received therapy services when you’re not present, eg occupational therapy to work on morning daily activities? Rather than speaking to the head of therapy, I would look for his actual therapists to get the full story.

I’m so sorry this is happening; it’s beyond frustrating to see your loved one declining when they were showing potential. Home health services will only provide limited therapy and no regular personal care beyond a home health aide for bathing probably once a week. Please keep us posted.
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Reply to MidwestOT
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Echoing others try to get him transferred to a rehabilitation center rather than being in a NH with a rehab sector. Post hospitalization rehab is very time sensitive for health insurance coverage so you have to get on this asap.

perhaps contact the Pt Dept at the hospital he was in to get a suggestion from them as to one.
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Reply to igloo572
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Is your husband the problem? Does he have Dementia where he can't remember from one minute to the next how to do his exercises. One day to the next. Is he refusing therapy. Is he in high blood pressure medication and now his B/P.

What iscthe therapist telling you? You can call Medicare or an Ombudsman.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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I would see about changing the rehab facility. I don't have experience with getting Medicare to get (and pay for) PTs to your home for the therapy. Do you have supplemental coverage, by chance?

Are you active as your husband's MR or MPoA? Is he capable of making his own decision in this matter? If so, what does he have to say about it?

If you are in the sessions with your husband, is he pain-free, willing and able to do the exercises? If not, this may be a reason he isn't yet progressing.

What are the excuses that the head of therapy is giving you?

More info would be helpful.
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Reply to Geaton777
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YaYa79 Jul 19, 2024
All good questions.
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