My BIL was in ALF and had 2 stay in the hospital for surgery. Once discharged he had to take rehab in SNF. Now, ALF says he can not return, he know longer has a bed.
If this is protocol, it needs to change. No vulnerable senior should have to go through that. thanks
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- if he’s currently in a skilled nursing facility, his chart is showing he needs that level of care...... he’s getting & needing “skilled”. AL is not that & AL cannot readmit him unless he can clearly show to totally be able to do his ADLs with very minimal assistance.
He would need to have a needs assessment done & it shows in detail he’s ok on ADLs. The needs assessment usually done by a RN & SW duo - the current place will know of an independent firm who does these. In my experience it’s rare for elderly to go from a SNF to AL. Younger in their 50’s & 60’s who are stroke or accident victims might can do enough rehab in a SNF to transition back to AL, IL or even return to their home.
- AL cannot hold a unoccupied room or a bed indefinitely UNLESS its being paid for. If he’s been private pay & he can continue to pay the AL & the Rehab/NH at the same time, the AL will gladly take the $ & upkeep his vacant room.
But I'm guessing that is not within your BIL financial ability. If so, then whatever the terms of his AL admissions paperwork will state what happens to the room due to a vacancy. You or your SIL do have the admissions contract, right?
This isn't just an issue for AL. NH have this issue as well. It’s referred to as a “bed hold”. Usually it’s a 72 Hr hold that’s placed on a Medicare & Medicaid bed in a NH. (It can be actually closer to 90 hrs if the place wants to make it that cause they want the resident back). Observation status at a hospital or ER can’t run more than 72 hrs..... they have to be either admitted to the hospital or discharged from “observation” by then. If they are on LTC NH Medicaid, Medicaid will pay the daily room & board charge for 3 days so the NH can & will put a “bed hold” on their space as $ still coming in.
But if looking like gonna be a week or 2,, then in my experience it really is going to be interdependent on the elders & your relationship with the facility on “bed holds”. If they are a easy care resident, pay their bill or copay on time, have a good SS monthly income, family is helpful, and the place has several other empty beds, well in that scenario, they can extend the bed hold. Family will need to private pay as Medicaid will not be paying. The $$$ amount kinda depends, it could be daily private pay rate, the reduced Medicaid daily room & board reimbursement rate or whatever you can quietly negotiate with the NH. The “devil that you know is better than the one you do not know” comes into play......
As long as rent was being paid, I don't see the problem. Was ur Dads surgery such that they don't feel they can give him proper care? Call your State Ombudsman and ask about this. The facility has to provide you the info.
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Yes, it is extremely scary to be told the bed is no longer available.
Question; You mentioned your B-I-L was only in the hospital two days and then went to rehab. How old is your B-I-L? I asked because if he is 65 plus and on Traditional Medicare, Medicare requires a three midnight stay as an inpatient (not observation) in a hospital before they will pay for rehab in a skilled rehab. If he was not in the hospital as an inpatient for three midnight's, Medicare will not pay the cost of his rehab!
Thank you so much for responding. I had contacted the long term care ombudsman about helping to get my BIL transferred to a facility closer to home. (he was in a MC 4 hours away from all family). The long term care ombudsman stated to me that the administrator what my BIL out of her MC facility just as bad as we wanted him closer to home.
Long story short …. That same weekend, BIL ended up in the hospital for surgery and discharged to SNF for rehabilitation. SNF said he recovered well and is ready to go back to the same level of care, however, administrator says she no longer has a room at her facility.
After about 6 months I finally got homemaker services, and medical alert system from the state. I was qualified for Medicaid Waiver, but there was no funding! So I had to wait..then took 3+ months from approval to start services.
My IL says you Only have to pay for 2 months more on lease if you have to leave for higher level of care..AL or LNH. Very scary to think that if I had gone to AL last year I could have been homeless after complcations of 'same day orthopedic surgery' this year.
Thanks for making me aware of what to ask!!
Thanks for responding. That is what I thought as well.