Continued prayers for my FIL
Find a Conversation
| Tue, 09-02-2003 - 9:57pm |
The doctors have decided that he is "well enough" to be discharged. This is a man who can't feed himself, can't get out of bed, screams and yells at my MIL and SIL. Their medical care is done so it's now up to the family to decide what to do. He obviously is in no condition to come home. So Where does he go? There are no questions asked of the family just a discharge nurse calling you telling you that he is being discharged. And that if you don't find a facility within 2 days you will then be billed for each day that he stays in the hospital. There are some very tough decisions to be made. Their medical insurance covers them for 100 days of rehabilitation. So you are handed a list and told to check off 5 facilities that are covered under your plan that you would like him to go to. You have to make an instant decision without looking at the facility or without any information about the facility. Who can make a decision like that for a loved one? Then DH's oldest sister made her feelings known that the whole rehab process should be forgotten and he should be put in a nursing home facility. Does she really want to make a decision like that in this amount of time? DH, myself and DH's younger sister all feel that he should at least be given the time to see what the therapists can do. I certainly don't want him put into a nursing home facility without at least the opportunity to see if he can gain a small portion of self help. And if they feel that he won't gain much from the rehab it will at least allow a little more time to look and decide about nursing home facilities.
Not only do these decisions have to made without much thought put into it but the social worker got nasty with my SIL. I have never liked the medical insurance plan and doctors that they use and DH's and my opinion have certainly not changed.
So if you could please remember DH and his family that whatever decisions they need to make over the course of the next day or two will be decisions that they feel will be the best and for the grandkids who have spent enormous amounts of time with their grandparents. We all lived within a few minutes of each other and grandma and grandpas house was always the best place to be!

I agree with you, from what you've told us, that you shouldn't rush to put him in a nursing home. Do the drs. think he might make some improvement over time? Don't let anyone rush you in making such an important decision.
Take care, and we'll continue to pray for him.
Hugs,
Rhonda
~~Rhonda~~
<
Hugs,
Kat
Donna
Margie :)
You Were Born An Original... Don't Die A Copy
~Jody~
Prayers and lots of strength and patience.
Grace
Grace
fitness4health@yahoo.com
Deb
Debbie
Miss P
BTW, I side with you, DH and younger SIL on giving rehab a chance and NOT sending father directly to a nursing home. However, you might need temp nursing care before you settle on a rehab option.
Cussette
C